Talk:1969–70 NBA season

National Basketball Association High‑importance

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The importance of the Knicks title win

New York's 1973 win was great too. Their Finals run in 1972 was impressive also. But the 1970 Knicks title is one of the most important wins ever for the league. The Knickerbockers had always been a curiosity. Contenders before the 24-second clock, they were also rans in the 50s and 60s prior to Red Holzman's organizing of the team's many top draft picks. Reed was a classic forward/center, great at forward but solid enough to hold his own in the middle. This allowed the Knicks to also tab DeBusschere, whose impact cannot be overstated. Oscar Robertson, among others has said that defense and rebounds win titles. Dave D did both in bunches. Walt Frazier was just as big as DeBusschere and sometimes bigger. A rare defensive guard who was the biggest stopper on the club. Plus he was the big scorer and even the point guard. Reed got the glory. Frazier was really always the key Knick. He was a top ball thief before the stat was properly kept. The NBA needed a winner in New York and always will. These guys elevated the media attention and put the league on television. That had never happened like that before. Not even close. Wilt vs. Russell was the rerun that brought yawns from casual fans. The Knicks put New York where they'd been with the Jets and Mets, in an exciting championship light. Sports as a whole needed that jolt, one which even the Giants and Yankees could not provide. The Celtics and Chamberlain were top tier stars. The Knicks took the league above them both in 1970.