Legendary former New York Knicks center Willis Reed died Tuesday at the age of 80.
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The New York organization confirmed this sad news in a press release.
“We will always seek to uphold the standards he left behind: his undeniable leadership, dedication and work ethic that have made him a champion among champions,” the Knicks said in a statement.
Reed is one of only three players in NBA history, along with Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal, to be named MVP of the regular season, All-Star Game and Tour Finals in the same campaign.
The Louisiana native only played 10 seasons in the NBA but still became the first player to have his number retired by the Knicks. He also managed the Big Apple team for a season and also served on the staff of the New Jersey Nets for a decade.