IT takes some doing to get Willis Reed excited these days. When you’ve seen as many changes in the NBA as he has, it usually takes more than a new face in a new place for the Hall of Famer to act like he did yesterday at Knicks practice.
By the spring in his step and excitement in his voice, you almost thought the Knicks legend was ready to pull down his No. 19 from the rafters, lace up a pair of sneakers and take a trip or two up and down the court.
If the arrival of Stephon Marbury can do that to Reed, imagine the impact the new point guard will have on the Knicks?
“He brings excitement because he’s a great player,” Reed said of Marbury, acquired Monday in a blockbuster trade from Phoenix. “He’s a tremendous talent.”
Then Reed bestowed perhaps the biggest compliment that could be given to a Knick point guard. He compared Marbury to Walt “Clyde” Frazier, the Hall of Famer, who helped Reed and the Knicks win the franchise’s only two championships.
“I’m saying to you in terms of a pure point guard, he could be the next guy after Clyde,” Reed said. “Clyde was a great one, and now we’ve got one who could be as good as Clyde. Plus, he wants to be as good as Clyde and that’s a great thing to have.”
Reed was practically giddy after watching Marbury and the Knicks go through their first full practice together. It was a spirited, up-tempo session spiced with some lively trash talk. “I saw guys do things I hadn’t seen them do,” said head coach Don Chaney.
Marbury’s immediate impact has given the Knicks excitement, energy and hope. How soon and how often all that translates to wins, and eventually championships, will determine whether Marbury becomes what he ultimately wants to be: a Knicks legend like Clyde and Reed.
No one understands better than the kid from Coney Island that it is one thing to be rich and play in the NBA and quite another to achieve the enduring reverence the players on the Knicks championship teams enjoy.
It all starts tonight when Marbury puts on the white jersey trimmed in blue and orange for the first time. Certainly, his emotions will be high tonight with Jeff Van Gundy, Patrick Ewing and the Rockets in the building. But once the jitters subside, the quest begins: to get the Knicks into the playoffs.
Their professional minds tell the Knicks it will take time for the new talents of Marbury and Anfernee Hardaway to blend with the rest. But with a 14-22 record, there is no time for a lengthy adjustment period.
“It could be soon, it could be a few weeks,” Keith Van Horn said. “I really don’t know. But we’re going to have to start winning some games soon.”
The sooner the better for Marbury. He vowed to be more of his old self tonight. He had just eight points in the 107-96 loss at Cleveland, shooting 3-of-9 from the field in just 29 minutes. He wants to play about 40 minutes tonight. “The more I’m on the court, the better it’s going to be for everyone to adjust to the way I play,” he said.
Reed likes that kind of talk. The best leader in the history of the Knicks sees a growing leader in Marbury. “I think he’s ready to do that,” Reed said. “The situation couldn’t be better for him.”
Or the Knicks.
