Willis Reed's 1970 Game and the Knicks' Current Finals Run
The article reflects on the 1970 NBA Finals, where Willis Reed's courageous performance for the New York Knicks against the Los Angeles Lakers is hailed as the greatest moment in New York sports history. Reed, playing with a numbed injured leg, inspired the Knicks to victory, with Walt Frazier scoring 36 points and 19 assists. The team, coached by Red Holzman, also won the title in 1973. The piece contrasts this golden era with decades of disappointment for Knicks fans, including near misses in 1994 and 1999, and highlights the current team's resurgence led by Jalen Brunson. Brunson's playoff performance, averaging nearly 27 points, has propelled the Knicks to the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The article also notes the 2024 WNBA title win by the New York Liberty as a recent triumph.
Key facts
- Willis Reed played with a numbed injured leg on May 8, 1970.
- The Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1970 NBA Finals.
- Walt Frazier had 36 points and 19 assists in Game 7.
- The Knicks won a second title in 1973 against the Lakers.
- The Knicks reached the Finals in 1994 and 1999 but lost.
- Jalen Brunson averages nearly 27 points in the 2026 playoffs.
- The Knicks face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2026 Finals.
- The New York Liberty won the WNBA title in 2024.
Entities
Artists
- Willis Reed
- Walt Frazier
- Earl Monroe
- Bill Bradley
- Dave DeBusschere
- Dick Barnett
- Phil Jackson
- Cazzie Russell
- Mike Riordan
- Red Holzman
- Lou Gehrig
- Babe Ruth
- Joe Namath
- Bill Buckner
- Muhammad Ali
- Joe Frazier
- Norman Mailer
- Frank Sinatra
- Derek Jeter
- Mariano Rivera
- Bernie Williams
- John F. X. Condon
- Marv Albert
- Spike Lee
- Patrick Ewing
- Bernard King
- Carmelo Anthony
- Jeremy Lin
- Reggie Miller
- Larry Bird
- Michael Jordan
- Jalen Brunson
- James Harden
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- OG Anunoby
- Mikal Bridges
- Josh Hart
- Landry Shamet
- Miles McBride
- Mitchell Robinson
- Victor Wembanyama
Institutions
- New York Knicks
- Los Angeles Lakers
- NBA
- New York Jets
- New York Mets
- New York Yankees
- San Antonio Spurs
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Indiana Pacers
- Houston Rockets
- Minnesota Lynx
- New York Liberty
- WNBA
- Madison Square Garden
- Life magazine
- Birmingham Barons
Locations
- New York City
- Los Angeles
- Manila
- Valencia
- Flushing
- San Antonio
- Oklahoma City
- Cleveland
- United States