As a 54-year old (born in 1968), I consider my age bracket to be the longest suffering of Knicks fans. I’m too young to remember the championships and my fandom started by watching the Michael Ray Richardson-Ray Williams backcourt on Channel 9 in the late ‘70’s. It’s since been a sports-fan lifetime of hoping to see the Knicks regain that glory. Thanks for capturing the reverence we feel for Willis and what he represents. RIP, Captain.
JG, I was born in '70. Very well said about our age bracket being the longest suffering of fans. I never really thought about it that way. When the Rangers finally won the Stanley Cup, a fan held up a sign that read: NOW I CAN DIE IN PEACE. I think I will actually cry if/when we reach that pinnacle....lol
Listen to Wilt talk about his toughest opponents and he usually says Russell and Reed. Listen to Reed's teammates or read their books- everyone knew who it all hinged on.
I am sure I wasn't the only senior citizen Knick fan who shed a tear yesterday.
I am just young enough that Willis was retired when I became aware of the Knicks. But Game Seven is essentially in my Knicks Fan DNA, and is one of those things that will always make me happy. RIP, Captain.
Willis was and is the foundation of Knick greatness. But, it took the front office moving Walt Bellamy and adding Dave DeBusschere for Reed's full glory to be revealed. Coming from a bygone era when sports greats were suppose to be and often falsely made out to be role models, Willis was the real deal.
In a time of Jim Crow, officially sanctioned and supported segregation, when almost all things Black were degraded, demeaned, and dismissed by most of White America, Reed was a proud, dignified Black man. A leader on and off the court. That meant a lot to this young teen growing up in the Bronx.
Willis was never showy or brash. His play did the talking. He never backed down from an opponent or a challenge. Russ, Wilt, Wes, Elvin, Kareem, Nate, Cliff, Beaty, Walt, Cowens---he faced them all and won. Battling in the basketball trenches, setting bone crunching picks, hitting jumpers from the top of the key, defending on every play...
Country strong he was the leader the big city Knicks needed, and he delivered. Celebrate Patrick, Clyde, and whoever shows up next, but Reed was one of a kind. He was substance, not style. We won't see his like again.
I'm happy you brought up Reed's pride as a Black man...Ray spoke about that as well on the pod today. Seems like it was a big part, if not the biggest part, of his story.
"Country strong he was the leader the big city Knicks needed, and he delivered. Celebrate Patrick, Clyde, and whoever shows up next, but Reed was one of a kind. He was substance, not style. We won't see his like again."
I read the book, "Shoot Out the Lights" by Bob Spitz when I was fifteen during the 1999-00 Knicks season. A memoir of the Knicks first title season thirty years earlier. It was such a wonderful book full of nice little side stories of each player, even bench players and full of great photography from that season. Obviously overall a strong in depth look at the 1969-70 season beginning with the backdrop of the agony of losing to Boston in the 1969 Eastern Conference Finals to the hope of a title in the wake of Bill Russell's retirement through training camp and all the way through the historic sixty win season and finally through the playoff run which would yield the franchise first championship.
I remember eating that book up as I learned about how dominant that team really was. I grew a very deep appreciation for Walt but also for Reed too who I have to admit I didn't know too much about prior to that time. I knew Kareem and Wilt and all of their gaudy numbers but not too much about the unassuming Mr. Reed. The admiration for him in how he guided that team all the way through as the Captain he was and the sacrifice he put forward to bring the air back into MSG on game seven of 1970 NBA Finals and propel to the title.
Even with all of this information I still wasn't convinced that Reed was the better of Patrick or even Clyde. Ten year career and not as decorated. I understood that there was something to be said about how important he was to the only two titles the Knicks owned. I mean the same could be said about NFL quarterback greats, Joe Namath or Eli Manning with their collection of super bowl rings for New York. At the same time are they really superior to John Elway, Jim Kelly, or Dan Marino when it comes to stats.
I remember watching one game between the Knicks and Heat during the 2000 Eastern Conferences Semi Finals in Miami. I believe Patrick came out of the tunnel during warm-ups I think he was getting a little pregame work done on his knee. Not nearly as dramatic as thirty years earlier. None the less I believed because it was on the same day as game seven of the 1970 finals, Bob Costas decided to compare Patrick's walk out of the tunnel with Reeds walk out moments before tip off. It pissed off my father immediately, who not a Knicks fan but a Sixers but someone who remembers how good that Knicks team was. He said, "that's &@#^!! Alonzo doesn't hold a candle to Wilt and Ewing doesn't hold a candle to Willis."
I remember thinking at the time but Patrick practically owns almost record there is for my team. As I got older and more educated about my teams history and of Willis Reeds lasting legacy. I understood exactly what my father was saying. When the Knicks celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the 72-73 team ten years ago I finally understood why #19 was so freaking important to that team even among other fellow hall of farmers.
I agree with you Jon on making Pat number one out of the seventy five greatest Knicks and he might even be higher than Willis on the NBA's list. In fact, I believe Willis as humble as he was had always tipped his hat to Pat as the greatest Knick of all time. Maybe it's through grief when you lose someone for good than you start to appreciate them much more. Or maybe its just was that unexplainable thing that older Knicks fans hold to in reverance to his career. I think I can really appreciate why Willis Reed should be considered the greatest Knick of all time.
It had nothing to do with talent. It was the sheer will and desire to win as well as the willingness to put the whole team on his back to the promised land. I can't help but wonder if Willis could win a championship on past Knick playoff teams and I have to answer yes. He gave it all he had which could be why his career was short. If not for health I believe the Knicks could of really controlled the better part of the seventies. In his self sacrifice we all appreciate and admire what I will say now in my opinion, The Greatest Knick of all Time. That is my take on The Captain from thirty nine year old fan that has only rooted for this team since the mid nineties and had never had the pleasure to watch him live. RIP Willis and many prayers and condolences to all of your loved ones.
PS Today's Knicks team, go win this one for Willis and take his story as a reminder not to take anything for granted and leave everything you got every night. Start that tonight and this fifth seed is OURS. LGK!!! Another wonderful article, thank you again Jon.
Really appreciate you taking the time here, Dom, and also for the book reference, which I had not heard of. Will have to grab a copy. As for Willis, you nailed it and I won't repeat the points, but will just double down on the notion that they probably win more than 2 titles with better health. Maybe '72, maybe '74, maybe both.
Your welcome Jon. He clearly was a great man and a really great player more than I gave credit before. My apologies to the OG Knicks fans who had the pleasure to see him at the Garden or on TV. I think we can all double down on getting this win and getting back to our ethos in the spirit of long past Knicks DeBusschere and now Reed. RIP, LGK.
Great piece. Wish you were old enough to have seen them play. They played with a cohesion that you rarely see in todays game. Sum of the parts were vastly superior to the individual talents. They won because they never stopped working together.
It’s why I am so intrigued by the current Knicks. They remind me of the old Knicks to some degree. Where they fall down (IMHO), is that there are times they lose the team thread for the individual thread. Not good enough individually to do that.
Thanks Peter...I wish I could have seen them too. And I totally agree that what you're talking about is the downfall of the current group (and, frankly, that they just aren't quite as talented as that one on either end of the floor). They're getting there though
Jon, I always look forward to and enjoy your writing. To me, this was your best. With every line I felt the energy, the grandeur and the love. I'm sure you enabled even those who never saw the man, to feel his special greatness. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this note MT. I did a few once overs on this one to make sure it was as good as I could make it. Just seemed like such a special player and an even more special man.
Well done Jon, it is amazing that even though you did not see him play, you captured the spirit that we who did witness his greatness loved about Reed. Thanks for this!
On a side note, outside of the Knicks succeeding in the playoffs, is the next thing we should be rooting for is for Jaylen Brown to be left off the all-NBA teams ?
With this week's news cycle, I'm certainly keeping a closer eye on the JB situation, although for a few reasons (no CAA, he's from Atlanta, and I could see the FO having concerns about how his personality would play in a NY market) he's still no the center of the bullseye for me
He seems to want out of Boston, and his reasoning is that he wants to be ‘The Star’ and not being respected with all the trade talk - I think he’d get that here. Perhaps that’s the personality issues ? Also, would only cost $$. Atlanta I guess would have to make a Brown/Murray decision at that point ? And I still think going would get all the attention if they played together, not exactly what Brown seems to be looking for. Not sure on the timing, but Murray wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize.
Maybe your best piece yet Macri. The magnitude of Willis Reed for a certain generation is hard to capture. Like you, I stupidly had no clue about Reed as a Knick when I was starting my foundational Knicks mania in the early 80s and knew him as this kinda grumpy looking GM of the Nets (who were a complete joke at the time). Now coming up on 50 years old, I’m certain I have no handle on how important this guy was to the Knicks of the 70s. Wouldn’t it be something if this Knicks team who is the most about team play as a team we’ve had since the 90s were to make a run in on the 30th anniversary of that ‘73 championship and the one that the big fella passes? I love a good storyline.
Beautiful writing Jon. I really enjoy your newsletters and podcasts. Willis Reed was an all-time great player and leader. It's a personally sad moment because his career coincided with my introduction to basketball. I got involved with basketball in 1966 in Junior High School and i was fortunate to eventually get to play a couple of years of college ball. I got Willis's autograph after my first Knicks game back in 1966. Of all the players he was the most gracious and took the time to talk to us kids. On those championship teams, he was a central presence who value went beyond statistics. He was good for a consistent 21 points and 12+ rebounds and little things that don't show up in the box scores. RIP 🙏
Thanks so much for the kind words Ed, and for sharing your personal story of Willis. I read somewhere yesterday that he would always carry around a marker to sign autographs for fans after he retired. Seems like not only a great Knick, but someone who embraced his role in the pantheon of New York sports heroes.
I look forward to reading TKFS every morning!!!!! I would like to put my 2 cents on the Top 3..... I'm 66yrs old ...1) Reed ditto on everything you wrote ... 2) Ewing because he was the '80's to 90's Knicks and everything they accomplished... he played his heart out every game and always as Batman without a Robin....3) Frazier (who I love) and as great as he was.... there is no Legend of Clyde without the Captain...and I am not demeaning him in any way
As a 54-year old (born in 1968), I consider my age bracket to be the longest suffering of Knicks fans. I’m too young to remember the championships and my fandom started by watching the Michael Ray Richardson-Ray Williams backcourt on Channel 9 in the late ‘70’s. It’s since been a sports-fan lifetime of hoping to see the Knicks regain that glory. Thanks for capturing the reverence we feel for Willis and what he represents. RIP, Captain.
Thanks so much for the kind words JG. And kudos to you for sticking it out through the suffering!)
JG, I was born in '70. Very well said about our age bracket being the longest suffering of fans. I never really thought about it that way. When the Rangers finally won the Stanley Cup, a fan held up a sign that read: NOW I CAN DIE IN PEACE. I think I will actually cry if/when we reach that pinnacle....lol
Well said, Jon.
Listen to Wilt talk about his toughest opponents and he usually says Russell and Reed. Listen to Reed's teammates or read their books- everyone knew who it all hinged on.
I am sure I wasn't the only senior citizen Knick fan who shed a tear yesterday.
Yup. It's so clear who the center of it all was. And thank you Tim.
Thanks for the thoughtful obit.
I am just young enough that Willis was retired when I became aware of the Knicks. But Game Seven is essentially in my Knicks Fan DNA, and is one of those things that will always make me happy. RIP, Captain.
Thanks for the kind words Simon. And yes, it's part of all of our DNA strands I think.
Willis was and is the foundation of Knick greatness. But, it took the front office moving Walt Bellamy and adding Dave DeBusschere for Reed's full glory to be revealed. Coming from a bygone era when sports greats were suppose to be and often falsely made out to be role models, Willis was the real deal.
In a time of Jim Crow, officially sanctioned and supported segregation, when almost all things Black were degraded, demeaned, and dismissed by most of White America, Reed was a proud, dignified Black man. A leader on and off the court. That meant a lot to this young teen growing up in the Bronx.
Willis was never showy or brash. His play did the talking. He never backed down from an opponent or a challenge. Russ, Wilt, Wes, Elvin, Kareem, Nate, Cliff, Beaty, Walt, Cowens---he faced them all and won. Battling in the basketball trenches, setting bone crunching picks, hitting jumpers from the top of the key, defending on every play...
Country strong he was the leader the big city Knicks needed, and he delivered. Celebrate Patrick, Clyde, and whoever shows up next, but Reed was one of a kind. He was substance, not style. We won't see his like again.
I'm happy you brought up Reed's pride as a Black man...Ray spoke about that as well on the pod today. Seems like it was a big part, if not the biggest part, of his story.
"Country strong he was the leader the big city Knicks needed, and he delivered. Celebrate Patrick, Clyde, and whoever shows up next, but Reed was one of a kind. He was substance, not style. We won't see his like again."
Beautifully put.
I read the book, "Shoot Out the Lights" by Bob Spitz when I was fifteen during the 1999-00 Knicks season. A memoir of the Knicks first title season thirty years earlier. It was such a wonderful book full of nice little side stories of each player, even bench players and full of great photography from that season. Obviously overall a strong in depth look at the 1969-70 season beginning with the backdrop of the agony of losing to Boston in the 1969 Eastern Conference Finals to the hope of a title in the wake of Bill Russell's retirement through training camp and all the way through the historic sixty win season and finally through the playoff run which would yield the franchise first championship.
I remember eating that book up as I learned about how dominant that team really was. I grew a very deep appreciation for Walt but also for Reed too who I have to admit I didn't know too much about prior to that time. I knew Kareem and Wilt and all of their gaudy numbers but not too much about the unassuming Mr. Reed. The admiration for him in how he guided that team all the way through as the Captain he was and the sacrifice he put forward to bring the air back into MSG on game seven of 1970 NBA Finals and propel to the title.
Even with all of this information I still wasn't convinced that Reed was the better of Patrick or even Clyde. Ten year career and not as decorated. I understood that there was something to be said about how important he was to the only two titles the Knicks owned. I mean the same could be said about NFL quarterback greats, Joe Namath or Eli Manning with their collection of super bowl rings for New York. At the same time are they really superior to John Elway, Jim Kelly, or Dan Marino when it comes to stats.
I remember watching one game between the Knicks and Heat during the 2000 Eastern Conferences Semi Finals in Miami. I believe Patrick came out of the tunnel during warm-ups I think he was getting a little pregame work done on his knee. Not nearly as dramatic as thirty years earlier. None the less I believed because it was on the same day as game seven of the 1970 finals, Bob Costas decided to compare Patrick's walk out of the tunnel with Reeds walk out moments before tip off. It pissed off my father immediately, who not a Knicks fan but a Sixers but someone who remembers how good that Knicks team was. He said, "that's &@#^!! Alonzo doesn't hold a candle to Wilt and Ewing doesn't hold a candle to Willis."
I remember thinking at the time but Patrick practically owns almost record there is for my team. As I got older and more educated about my teams history and of Willis Reeds lasting legacy. I understood exactly what my father was saying. When the Knicks celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the 72-73 team ten years ago I finally understood why #19 was so freaking important to that team even among other fellow hall of farmers.
I agree with you Jon on making Pat number one out of the seventy five greatest Knicks and he might even be higher than Willis on the NBA's list. In fact, I believe Willis as humble as he was had always tipped his hat to Pat as the greatest Knick of all time. Maybe it's through grief when you lose someone for good than you start to appreciate them much more. Or maybe its just was that unexplainable thing that older Knicks fans hold to in reverance to his career. I think I can really appreciate why Willis Reed should be considered the greatest Knick of all time.
It had nothing to do with talent. It was the sheer will and desire to win as well as the willingness to put the whole team on his back to the promised land. I can't help but wonder if Willis could win a championship on past Knick playoff teams and I have to answer yes. He gave it all he had which could be why his career was short. If not for health I believe the Knicks could of really controlled the better part of the seventies. In his self sacrifice we all appreciate and admire what I will say now in my opinion, The Greatest Knick of all Time. That is my take on The Captain from thirty nine year old fan that has only rooted for this team since the mid nineties and had never had the pleasure to watch him live. RIP Willis and many prayers and condolences to all of your loved ones.
PS Today's Knicks team, go win this one for Willis and take his story as a reminder not to take anything for granted and leave everything you got every night. Start that tonight and this fifth seed is OURS. LGK!!! Another wonderful article, thank you again Jon.
Really appreciate you taking the time here, Dom, and also for the book reference, which I had not heard of. Will have to grab a copy. As for Willis, you nailed it and I won't repeat the points, but will just double down on the notion that they probably win more than 2 titles with better health. Maybe '72, maybe '74, maybe both.
Your welcome Jon. He clearly was a great man and a really great player more than I gave credit before. My apologies to the OG Knicks fans who had the pleasure to see him at the Garden or on TV. I think we can all double down on getting this win and getting back to our ethos in the spirit of long past Knicks DeBusschere and now Reed. RIP, LGK.
Great piece. Wish you were old enough to have seen them play. They played with a cohesion that you rarely see in todays game. Sum of the parts were vastly superior to the individual talents. They won because they never stopped working together.
It’s why I am so intrigued by the current Knicks. They remind me of the old Knicks to some degree. Where they fall down (IMHO), is that there are times they lose the team thread for the individual thread. Not good enough individually to do that.
Thanks Peter...I wish I could have seen them too. And I totally agree that what you're talking about is the downfall of the current group (and, frankly, that they just aren't quite as talented as that one on either end of the floor). They're getting there though
Great article as always. I advise everyone to be smarter then I was and don’t read the comments on the YouTube link from game 7 Jon linked.
Oh no...I'm afraid to ask what they are.
Jon, I always look forward to and enjoy your writing. To me, this was your best. With every line I felt the energy, the grandeur and the love. I'm sure you enabled even those who never saw the man, to feel his special greatness. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this note MT. I did a few once overs on this one to make sure it was as good as I could make it. Just seemed like such a special player and an even more special man.
Well done Jon, it is amazing that even though you did not see him play, you captured the spirit that we who did witness his greatness loved about Reed. Thanks for this!
And thank you for the kind words sir!
Great article as usual.
On a side note, outside of the Knicks succeeding in the playoffs, is the next thing we should be rooting for is for Jaylen Brown to be left off the all-NBA teams ?
Thank you!
With this week's news cycle, I'm certainly keeping a closer eye on the JB situation, although for a few reasons (no CAA, he's from Atlanta, and I could see the FO having concerns about how his personality would play in a NY market) he's still no the center of the bullseye for me
He seems to want out of Boston, and his reasoning is that he wants to be ‘The Star’ and not being respected with all the trade talk - I think he’d get that here. Perhaps that’s the personality issues ? Also, would only cost $$. Atlanta I guess would have to make a Brown/Murray decision at that point ? And I still think going would get all the attention if they played together, not exactly what Brown seems to be looking for. Not sure on the timing, but Murray wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize.
This is when All-Star Games meant something.
https://youtu.be/GMVUIT-wfxE
Maybe your best piece yet Macri. The magnitude of Willis Reed for a certain generation is hard to capture. Like you, I stupidly had no clue about Reed as a Knick when I was starting my foundational Knicks mania in the early 80s and knew him as this kinda grumpy looking GM of the Nets (who were a complete joke at the time). Now coming up on 50 years old, I’m certain I have no handle on how important this guy was to the Knicks of the 70s. Wouldn’t it be something if this Knicks team who is the most about team play as a team we’ve had since the 90s were to make a run in on the 30th anniversary of that ‘73 championship and the one that the big fella passes? I love a good storyline.
Thanks so much brother...appreciate those words a great deal.
And that story would be so unbelievable that Hollywood wouldn't buy the script, as they say!
Date: 21 March, 2023
Scene: Pearly Gates
St. Peter: "Here comes Willis!"
*Crowd goes wild*
Comment of the day, John. Thank you
Beautiful writing Jon. I really enjoy your newsletters and podcasts. Willis Reed was an all-time great player and leader. It's a personally sad moment because his career coincided with my introduction to basketball. I got involved with basketball in 1966 in Junior High School and i was fortunate to eventually get to play a couple of years of college ball. I got Willis's autograph after my first Knicks game back in 1966. Of all the players he was the most gracious and took the time to talk to us kids. On those championship teams, he was a central presence who value went beyond statistics. He was good for a consistent 21 points and 12+ rebounds and little things that don't show up in the box scores. RIP 🙏
Thanks so much for the kind words Ed, and for sharing your personal story of Willis. I read somewhere yesterday that he would always carry around a marker to sign autographs for fans after he retired. Seems like not only a great Knick, but someone who embraced his role in the pantheon of New York sports heroes.
I look forward to reading TKFS every morning!!!!! I would like to put my 2 cents on the Top 3..... I'm 66yrs old ...1) Reed ditto on everything you wrote ... 2) Ewing because he was the '80's to 90's Knicks and everything they accomplished... he played his heart out every game and always as Batman without a Robin....3) Frazier (who I love) and as great as he was.... there is no Legend of Clyde without the Captain...and I am not demeaning him in any way
Thank you Boomer! And I have come to the point where any order of these top 3 is not wrong
(And DeBusschere is the only correct answer for No. 4)
Excellent piece, Macri!
Thank you Danielle!