The 40 Greatest NBA Finals of All Time, Ranked

A hush fell over Madison Square Garden. Willis Reed wasn’t supposed to play Game 7—his leg was practically dead. But there he was, hobbling out to warm up. The crowd erupted. He hit two early jumpers, and that was all the Knicks needed.

Frazier took it from there: 36 points, 19 assists, utter domination. But the image of Reed limping through the tunnel became the soul of New York basketball. Against a stacked Lakers team featuring West, Baylor, and Wilt, the Knicks claimed their first title.