NYC Mayor Eric Adams will always revere Knicks legend Willis Reed for the two championships he brought to the city of New York ... but he tells TMZ Sports that Reed's perseverance in the face of adversity is what makes him an icon in NY.
We spoke to Mayor Adams just days after Reed passed away at 80 years old this week ... and asked what Reed's legacy means to him now that the NBA legend is no longer with us.
"Willis Reed was my guy," Mayor Adams said. "He showed the resiliency of New York.