New York Sports Legends

There are many legendary sports all-stars that got their start out of New York State. Patrick Ewing was born on August 5, 1962 in Jamaica. Ewing became the center for the New York Knicks in 1985. In 1986, he was named Rookie of the Year. Ewing is one of the highest paid pro basketball players in the NBA and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Willis Reed Jr. was born on June 25, 1942 in Hico, Louisiana. He was drafted in 1964 by the New York Knicks. In 1970, Reed was named Most Valuable Player. The team retired Reed's uniform number two years after his last season, in 1976. His was the first number to be retired for the Knicks. During the ten years that he played with the team, he was among the top ten in just about every category. Reed also worked coaching just after retiring. He was the general manager for the Nets in 1993.

Joe "Broadway Joe" Namath was born on May 31, 1943, in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. He signed with the New York Jets in 1965 and played with the team until 1976. He won Rookie of the Year his first season. In 1969, he was named Most Valuable Player. Joe Namath was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

Starting in New York City, all of these men made a name for themselves and have become great legends. There are many other players for New York teams who have since achieved a legendary status, whether they stayed in New York or moved on.