Against All Odds (Willis Reed Essay Example)

In the 1970 NBA (National Basketball Association) Finals, Willis Reed, the leader and driving force of the New York Knicks franchise, was benched with an injury before the start of game seven of the finals. The team was left feeling hopeless without their leader. But to everyone’s surprise, Reed returned to the game and rallied his team together for a championship win (Staff). Willis Reed was an African American basketball player in the late 1900s and has received many awards for his efforts. Yet many have never heard of him. Willis Reed should be more recognized for his many accomplishments and contributions that led to a change in the sport of basketball forever.

Reed grew up on a farm in Bernice, Louisiana, where racism was considered a normality, and black folks were often discriminated against (Bondy). Because of this, Reed was forced to go to separate schools than white people and to different churches (Bondy). This made it hard for him to receive proper teaching. But Reed’s family was determined to get their child a good education. His family worked hard in order to send him to the historically black school, Grambling University (Parishes). There, Reed led Grambling to three Southwestern Atlantic Conference crowns and a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship (Parishes). His performance at Grambling got him noticed by the New York Knicks and later drafted by them in 1964 (Staff). Even though Reed has been overcoming adversity since he was a young boy, from the racism he faced to the hard work to get him into a good school, he still managed to surpass his challenges and re-define the sport of basketball.

But Reed’s struggles were not over. After proving to be a threat straight out of the draft by scoring forty-six points against the Los Angeles Lakers and ranking seventh in points-per-game that year, Reed led the Knicks to a 1970 NBA Finals appearance against the Los Angeles Lakers. But during game six, Reed suffered a deep-thigh injury during game six and was expected to miss the last game of the finals (Staff). With Reed hurt the Knicks were without their star player and many of his teammates lost hope in winning the championship. But minutes before the start of the game, Reed limped out onto the court to everyone's surprise. His return rallied his teammates together and their hopes of winning were restored (Britannica). The Knicks went on to win that game 113-99, confirming Reed’s place in the history books. Through great courage and determination, Reed prevailed from the obstacles thrown at him and became an inspiration to many.

Reed earned many memorable awards during his cut-short career in the NBA. In 1970 he became the first basketball player to ever earn MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the regular season, the championships, and the All-Star Game all in the same season (Britannica). Also, he was voted to win rookie of the year his first season in the league. Reed later retired in 1974 due to numerous knee injuries and was honored with a jersey retirement by the Knicks in 1976 (Staff). He was then inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1981 and earned the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award for improving the civil and human rights of African Americans in sports (Bondy). Due to his actions both on and off the court, Willis Reed is fondly remembered as both a basketball champion and a champion of civil rights.

Even though Willis Reed received honors similar to other basketball greats like Michael Jordan and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, he is still not as well known to the general public. Reed left an impact on the sports world and was a leading factor in giving everyone equal opportunities to become a professional athlete. And it is for that reason that Willis Reed should be better known for helping pioneer a path for African American athletes to gain a good education and follow through with their dreams.