Photo Credit: Kathy Willens, AP Photo
The 1972-73 New York Knicks are widely considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Led by Hall of Famers Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, and Earl Monroe, the Knicks captured their second NBA championship in three years, cementing their place in basketball lore.
The Knicks entered the 1972-73 season with high expectations. The previous year, they had fallen just short of a second straight championship, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. But the team was determined to bounce back and win it all again, and they did so in spectacular fashion.
The Knicks’ championship run had a profound impact on the NBA as a whole. They proved that a team could win with defense and unselfish play, setting a new standard for excellence that other teams would strive to emulate. They also demonstrated the power of teamwork and resilience, showing that a group of players could overcome adversity and achieve greatness.
This past Tuesday, the NBA world received sad news, when it was revealed that Willis Reed has passed away at age 80. So before, during and after last night’s game between the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat, Walt Frazier and Mike Breen shared some beautiful stories about Reed, shared what he meant to them and mourned his death.
“I turned the TV off today because every time I looked up there was Willis. I had to turn the phone off. Everybody’s calling,” the 77-year-old Frazier said. “I’m happy to be at the game. Maybe that’ll give me three hours where I can just react and not really [think about it].”
.@WaltFrazier shares what his close friend and teammate, Willis Reed, meant to him: pic.twitter.com/C6OFOExTCG
— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) March 22, 2023
At the end of the broadcast, things got especially emotional, as Mike Breen gave a tearful sign off to Clyde for coming to share his thoughts on Willis Reed.
