Reed says he'll retire in June

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Willis Reed, the New Orleans Hornets' vice president of basketball operations, said Friday that he plans to retire in June, the month in which he will turn 65.<br/><br/>Reed's

Saturday, December 2nd 2006, 2:54 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Willis Reed, the New Orleans Hornets' vice president of basketball operations, said Friday that he plans to retire in June, the month in which he will turn 65.

Reed's three-year contract with the NBA team ends that month. The Louisiana native said he plans to retire to the Ruston, Louisiana, house he shares with his wife, Gale.

"This is my last contract," Reed said. "This was three years I was very fortunate to have, getting to be back in my home state."

Hornets owner George Shinn said he doesn't want Reed to retire.

"I've been trying to talk him out of (retiring)," Shinn said. "I love the guy to death.

"He's got a great mind. He's good with players. I've told him, 'Man, I'm older than you, and I'm still pluggin' away. You can't give it up. I think I'll be able to talk him out of it."

Reed, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982, played 10 seasons for the New York Knicks, winning NBA titles in 1970 and 1973. He was the 1965 Rookie of the Year, won the league's MVP award twice and was a seven-time All-Star selection.