Willis Reed is a Hall of Fame center and justifiably so. He battled Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Nate Thurmond and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on even terms despite being just 6-10, tops.
Reed won two NBA titles with the New York Knicks and became legendary when he emerged from the tunnel in Game 7 against Wilt Chamberlain and the Lakers in 1970 despite suffering from a torn thigh muscle.
He then scored the first two baskets of the game, basically on one leg, setting a standard for his teammates that they embraced, winning the title.
They won again in 1973 and Reed’s toughness was the heart of both runs.