Legendary voice of the Knicks Marv Albert knew — knew that Willis Reed would show up for that triumphant Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Lakers at the Garden even with his torn thigh muscle.
“I was in the trainer’s room with him when he got the shot,” Albert told The Post on Tuesday, referring to Reed who passed away at age 80. “I did a pregame radio interview with him. He said, ‘I’m gonna play tonight.’
“So I went to the broadcast booth, and he’s not out on the court when they’re warming up, I heard a roar, and I looked down, and it’s Willis limping his way on the court and the Lakers at the other end, led by [Wilt] Chamberlain and [Jerry] West have this look on their face like they cannot believe it. It was like, ‘What is going on?’
“Then they announce the lineups, and he starts, and pretty quickly he hits a jumper — that was a ‘YES!’ I believe — and the crowd goes crazy. Minutes later he hits another one from the other side. And that’s all he did in that game. It overshadowed one of the greatest games ever played by a point guard [Walt Frazier] in the playoffs.”
Asked what made Reed The Captain, Albert said: “He had such respect for the way he carried himself, the way he dealt with his teammates and the way he played. And how fierce and physical he was on the court, but off the court, he was a low-key guy. But he played bigger than his size [a listed 6-foot-10, 235 pounds]. … They knew he’s been their protector if need be, but was not looking to get into fights.
“He was the heart and soul of those two Knick championship teams. He was so well-respected, not only by his own teammates but around the league. As I got to know him, saw what a wonderful guy he was.
“It’s a sad day.”