Knicks icon Willis Reed passed away Tuesday at the age of 80, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy as the backbone of the franchise's sole championship era.
Alongside Reed during those Knicks glory days was Bill Bradley, who remembered his friend and teammate while discussing Reed's accomplished life and career with the New York Post.
"He was The Captain. That says it all," Bradley told The Post. "He was the backbone of the team. He was the guy that took us to the first championship by his courage, and by his unselfishness. And he was a big Knick all his life."
Bradley remembered Reed as the ultimate leader, earning his nickname and title of The Captain during a career that saw two Finals MVPs, a Rookie of the Year, an NBA MVP, and 12 All-Star selections.
"Willis always was fair to everybody," Bradley told The Post. "He insisted on making sure you gave 100 percent all the time…He was somebody who we knew that if anybody got into trouble out there on the court, for whatever reason, Willis had your back."
Reed will be forever membered as the owner of one of the most iconic moments in Madison Square Garden history, emerging from the tunnel before game seven of the 1970 NBA Finals after uncertainty over whether he would play due to a torn muscle in his thigh.
"When he came out, it was like electricity coursed through the whole arena," Bradley remembered. "I remember [Elgin] Baylor, [Jerry] West and [Wilt] Chamberlain stopped warming up and watched him. I figured at that moment we were in pretty good shape.
"And then when he hit his first two shots, that was amazing, that took it to another level. And then Walt Frazier had the best seventh game of any player in history, picking up on that inspiration."
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch
Listen live to WFAN:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker (just say 'Play W-F-A-N')
