Reed averaged 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds in 650 regular-season games before retiring at only 31 because of debilitating knee injuries. His story, however, will live forever in NBA lore for famously emerging from the Madison Square Garden tunnel before Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals and playing through injury to help the Knicks win their first title. “He was the backbone of the team,” Frazier said. “He led by example. He did it on the court. He worked diligently in practice. He always gave 110 percent. He would never let you get down.”
