This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 4/30/2009.
Willis Reed earned All-Star status in his first seven pro seasons (1964 to 1971), all with the Knicks. He led New York to its first ever NBA Championship in 1970, a year in which he became the first player to be named league MVP, All-Star Game MVP and Playoffs MVP in the same season. Hampered in the next two seasons by tendonitis in his knees, Reed returned to his old form in 1973 to help the Knicks capture another NBA title and garner another NBA Finals MVP award. Reed retired after playing only nine games in the 1973-74 season. The 1965 NBA Rookie of the Year, Reed was named as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996, and elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. Before joining the Knicks, Reed was a college All-America and led Grambling State to the 1961 NAIA title. This white jersey has orange and blue trim around the neck and arm openings. Inside the rear collar is the "Gerry Cosby" distributors tag. Attached to that are two additional manufacturers tags with jersey size "48" and wash instructions. Across the front is "NEW YORK" in orange on blue tackle twill. Player number "19" appears on both the front and back in orange on blue tackle twill. Across the back is "REED" in blue tackle twill sewn directly on the shirt. The bottom leg of the first "E" in the name is straight, not curved like the other "E" and appears to match the uniform worn in a picture with Reed, Frazier, DeBusschere, Barnett and Bradley on the bench with Coach Red Holzman. The jersey shows good game-use with some wrinkling of the numbers and very slight dirt stains. There appear to have no alterations of any kind. It is accompanied by a letter from Knicks coach Red Holzman's former assistant who obtained and originally consigned this item as well as a MEARS LOA graded A10. Also accompanied by a photo of Reed sitting on the bench which appears to be a photo match.