There have been some incredibly iconic moments in NBA history. Consider Julius Erving’s under-the-basket layup. Consider Michael Jordan pumping his fist after eliminating the Cleveland Cavaliers, or Jerry West hitting a 60-foot shot to put a Finals game vs. the Knicks into overtime…or Magic Johnson hitting that hook shot against the Boston Celtics in the Finals.
Now consider Willis Reed in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals.
Reed had torn his right quadricep, and that would be brutal for the average person walking around the house. In his case, he had to play professional basketball, and not only did he have to do that, his opposite number was Wilt Chamberlain, perhaps the most powerful athlete in American history.
Up until game time, it wasn’t at all clear that Reed would be able to go. However, he got 200 ccs of Cortisol just before tip-off, and when he came out of the tunnel, the Knicks and their fans were electrified.
Reed took the first two shots of the game, made both, and the game was effectively over. It was that powerful.
It remains the definitive example of courage on a basketball court.
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