The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 1970. The Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 113-99 in Game 7 of the Finals thanks to an inspired play by Willis Reed. The injured Reed managed to score the game’s first two baskets. Reed spent his 10-season career with the New York Knicks and was voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. After a decade of coaching, he became senior vice president of basketball operations and led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.
Today in Sports History: May 8
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 15: Julius Erving and Willis Reed attend the 64th NBA All-Star Game presented by KIA as part of the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 15, 2015 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)