When Geno Auriemma lauded Knicks' unsung hero "they don't talk about" in Willis Reed's epic NBA Finals 'limping' story
Geno Auriemma shed light on a unique perspective on what makes a perfect player while discussing the evolution of men's basketball. In an interview with "Origin Sports" released on March 22, 2023, Auriemma mentioned the two-time NBA champion Walt Frazier.
The UConn Huskies coach named Frazier a perfect basketball player, citing that he could score at will and lock down scorers on the other end. Auriemma also recalled a story of how Frazier shouldered the New York Knicks' 1970 NBA championship.
"He was the guy in the seventh game when Willis Reed walked out there and limped out there," Geno Auriemma said. "They don't talk about Walt Frazier had a triple-double that day. I think he had 36, 14 and 12 - something like that.
"And I said he epitomized everything that I always thought made a player great and there certainly have been others since and before. You couldn't stop him from scoring anytime he wanted and you couldn't score on him. That, to me, is the essence of a superstar." (12:20)
Willis Reed, the 1970 regular season MVP, was injured in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the LA Lakers. He missed Game 6, and the Knicks lost behind a 45-point and 27-rebound outing by Lakers' Wilt Chamberlain.
While Reed returned for Game 7, his injury derailed his play (four points and three rebounds). Walt Frazier filled the Knicks' offensive void, posting 36 points (70.6% shooting), 19 assists and seven rebounds, for one of the most overshadowed championship-deciding plays in NBA history.
Geno Auriemma and UConn's biggest matchup of the season
After dominating the Iowa State Cyclones 101-68 on Tuesday, Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies will face the USC Trojans on Saturday.
Even though the Trojans are ranked 7th, the battle between Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins makes this matchup the Huskies’ biggest challenge of the season. It is also potentially the last matchup between two of the most celebrated college basketball names.
Both USC (10-1) and UConn (10-1) enter the contest with matching season records, with their only loss coming at the hands of Hannah Hidalgo and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.