The Knicks are back in the NBA Playoffs after missing the postseason last year.
Behind All-Star forward Julius Randle, rising star guard Jalen Brunson and potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate Immanuel Quickley, New York finished with the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference. After pulling off a first-round upset over the Cavaliers, they're set for a Semifinals matchup with the No. 8 seed Heat.
If you're tuning into a Knicks playoff game and notice a black No. 19 ribbon on their jersey or a white No. 19 sticker on the sideline, you might be wondering who wore that number and why he's honored on their uniforms.
The Sporting News has you covered with the answer below.
What is the No. 19 ribbon on the Knicks' jersey?
The black No. 19 ribbon on the Knicks uniform (and white No. 19 sticker on the sideline) is to honor the late, great Willis Reed, who passed away at 80 years old on March 21, 2023.
Knicks will wear this 19 ribbon to honor the late Willis Reed pic.twitter.com/HQ3IJRn5uC
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) March 27, 2023
Reed is widely considered to be one of the greatest Knicks players of all time.
He played all 10 seasons of his NBA career in New York, bringing two championships to the city. The Knicks have not won an NBA title since Reed's teams in 1970 and 1973.
Reed has his No. 19 retired by the Knicks and he was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1982. He was also recognized as one of the greatest players in NBA history, cracking the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
For more on Reed's historic Knicks career, take a look at a few pieces written by The Sporting News following his death in March, as well as one "TSN Archives" piece from "The Willis Reed Game" back in 1970.
Remembering Willis Reed
- TSN Archives: How 'The Willis Reed Game' was originally covered in 1970 after the Knicks championship
- Revisiting Willis Reed's Game 7 performance: What you didn't know about Knicks legend's battle vs. Lakers
- Knicks pay tribute to Willis Reed in first game at Madison Square Garden after his passing
- NBA world mourns the loss of Willis Reed
Willis Reed career accolades
- NBA Hall of Fame
- Two-time NBA champion
- Two-time Finals MVP
- 1969-70 NBA MVP
- Five-time All-NBA
- Seven-time All-Star
- 1969-70 All-Defensive Team
- 1964-65 Rookie of the Year
- 1964-65 All-Rookie Team
- 1969-70 All-Star Game MVP
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team
- NBA 50th Anniversary Team
Willis Reed career stats
- 10 seasons played with Knicks
- 18.7 points per game
- 12.9 rebounds per game
- 1.8 assists per game
- 1.1 blocks per game*
- 0.6 steals per game*
- 47.6 percent field goal
- 74.7 percent free throw
*Blocks and steals were only counted in the final season of Reed's career.
