Willis Reed, Basketball Hall of Famer, Dies at Age 80

Willis Reed, a basketball Hall of Fame player, died Tuesday at age 80. Reed was best known for his time with the New York Knicks basketball team. He helped the Knicks win two championships in 1970 and 1973. Reed became famous for playing through pain in a big game.

Reed's family told the National Basketball Retired Players Association about his death. They did not say what caused his death. Reed had been sick recently and could not travel to New York when the Knicks honored their 1973 championship team in February.

The most famous moment of Reed's career happened in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. Reed had hurt his thigh muscle in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers. He fell to the court in pain and could not play in Game 6. The Lakers won that game easily, which meant there would be a Game 7.

Nobody knew if Reed would be able to play in the final game. Even his teammates did not know until just before the game started. Both teams were warming up when Reed came out of the tunnel at Madison Square Garden. The fans went crazy when they saw him walk onto the court.

Reed made two quick shots early in the game, but he was clearly hurt and limping. He did not score any more points that night. However, his teammate Walt Frazier played amazing, scoring 36 points and getting 19 assists. The Knicks won the game 113-99 and their first NBA championship.