Willis Reed was past 30 now, and in the compressed lifespan of athletics that is to be past middle-age. It is a time when the body begins to betray its promises of youth, a time when the infinite resilience and boundless energy start to become less dependable certainties.
Tag Archives: Willis Reed
Lonnie Shelton: Reeding His Future in New York, 1977
Maybe Shelton will learn to love the Big Apple, just as he’s learning to cope with the big centers in the NBA.
Red Auerbach Rates Basketball’s Best Battlers, 1973
It brought back memories of Auerbach’s Celtic battlers of the past, of Russell breaking Jim Krebs’ jaw, of Loscutoff decking Dick Schnittker with one punch, and of Brannum flattening Dolph Schayes.
Willis Reed: Managing The Knicks’ Special Agony, 1978
Just as he did as a player, Reed threw himself wholeheartedly into the job.
The Imminent Decline and Fall of the New York Knicks, 1975
Basketball may be the No. 1 sport in New York, but the Knicks no longer will be kings of the NBA.
Connie Hawkins: No Harm, No Foul, 1970
One thing Connie Hawkins will do for Phoenix is solidify the franchise overnight. No team can exist for long in the NBA today without a superstar, and Connie Hawkins fills the gap at Phoenix.
Dave DeBusschere: The Man Who Filled Four Positions, 1971
DeBusschere is, without a doubt, New York’s Most Valuable Player.
The Secret Behind the Amazing Knicks, 1970
To many, who had become accustomed to the Knicks being have-nots unable to make the playoffs for seven straight seasons (1960-1966), their “instant success” seemed almost unreal.
Walt Frazier: The Meaning of Defense, 1970
“Walt,” says teammate Dave DeBusschere, “could strip a car with the engine running.”
The Agony of West and Baylor, 1968
Can 80 percent of the old Baylor and an injury-haunted Jerry West revive a budding dynasty?
From Way Downtown 