Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: Bernice, Union Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1998-04-12

Duration: 00:23:02

Subjects: Reed, Willis, 1942- | BASKETBALL | GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY | New York Knickerbockers (Basketball team) | National Basketball Association | Chamberlain, Wilt, 1936-1999 | Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, 1947- | Unseld, Wes | Jordan, Michael, 1963- | Bird, Larry, 1956- | Baylor, Elgin | PETTIT, BOB | Russell, Bill, 1934- | Maravich, Pete, 1947-1988 | Sports | professional athletes

Contributors:

• Fowler, Ken Producer
• Casey, Ashley Heyer Associate Producer
• Eaglin, J. Carlos, II Producer
• Eaglin, J. Carlos, II Director
• Weill, Gus Interviewer
• Reed, Willis Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from April 12, 1998, features an interview with Willis Reed conducted by Gus Weill. Reed played basketball as a center and forward for the New York Knicks from 1964-1974, where he won two championships in 1970 and 1973. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982 and later named one of the 50 Greatest Players in the NBA. He discusses: growing up in Bernice, Louisiana; being recruited by Eddie Robinson to play football; attending Grambling State University to play basketball; other successful basketball players from Louisiana; his determination to play in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals after sustaining an injury in Game 5; playing against Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wes Unseld; his assessments of Pete Maravich, Michael Jordan, and Larry Bird; modeling his game after Bill Russell; the underrated careers of Elgin Baylor and Bob Pettit; and his career accomplishments.