Willis Reed is one of the greatest New York Knicks player to be a part of the organization. He was drafted by the team in 1964 and spent his entire career there. The center was over looked because of his size for the position, but made up for it with his tough playing style that made him a proficient rebounder and shot blocker. Willis Reed would go on and win Rookie of the Year.

In his 10 year career Reed was a 2x NBA Champion and won Finals MVP for both 1970 and 1973 championship runs. He also won the regular season MVP Award in 1970. Reed is also a 7x NBA All-Star. His great career would lead to his number (no. 19) to be retired by the organization in 1976. He was also inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1982. 

After his playing career Reed would continue to have a successful career in the league as a coah and as an executative. He would first coach the Knicks, Hawks, and Kings, before getting hired as the Head Coach of the New Jersey Nets in 1988. In 1989, Reed was hired as the Nets' General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations. He would help build a Nets team that were Playoff contenders throughout the 1990's and go to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. Reed would move on to work for the New Orlean Hornets in 2004 and officially retire in 2007.