Lonnie Shelton: Reeding His Future in New York, 1977

[When Willis Reed retired in 1973, he walked away on his gimpy knees as one of the most-beloved New York Knicks ever. He was considered the 6-foot-10, 235-pound heart and soul of the NBA champion 1969-70 Knicks. Mr. Dependable. The Captain. The Take-Charge Man.

When the 20-year-old Lonnie Shelton signed with the Knicks in 1976, New Yorkers took one long …