“Robert Reid Passed Away”: Deeply Saddened Magic Johnson Sends Prayers to Family of Rockets Legend After Tragic Demise

The Houston Rockets have lost one of their most important ancestors who brought fame to the Texas unit in the 1980s. Robert Reid, a 40th pick from the 1977 draft, spent 10 years building the Rockets, which is now one of the most rooted teams in the Western Conference. Reid was 68 years old when he died at his home this Monday in Houston. He fell prey to the deadly disease of cancer, which has “deeply saddened” Magic Johnson. Despite being tough rivals on the court, the Lakers icon paid tribute to Reid’s demise by reminiscing about some of his favorite moments with the NBA legend. 

The 5x champion shared on Twitter, “I’m deeply saddened by the news that my friend Robert Reid passed away today. Robert was a fierce competitor for the Houston Rockets and one of the best defensive players the league has ever seen!“. Reid was so good that even Magic Johnson fell short of making it to the NBA finals in 1986 when guarded by him.  

Magic Johnson took this time to make note of the 68-year-old’s contrasting side outside the court. He wrote, “He was always a good host when I visited Houston, and we shared many meals together over the years. He was a great person, and this is a tough loss for his family.” The 3x MVP sent his prayers to the Reid family on this devastating loss. 

His contribution to the Rockets is nothing short of excellent, but it is quite non-famous. Reid is one of the top 10s in almost every stat for the Rockets franchise. He holds the 5th place for steals, 8th place for both points and rebounds, and 10th place in assists, which only a few other superstars have recorded. While many would credit Moses Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon for the Rockets’ incredible run in the 80s, it’s safe to say Reid was the X-factor, a pillar, who helped them find success. 

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1981 and 1986 were two of his most defining seasons, and his performance against the Lakers in the conference finals gave him his flowers.

How did Robert Reid become the shining star by demolishing the Lakers? 

The Lakers had just come off a championship run in 1985. Their dominant run continued in 1986 too, as they made it all the way to the conference finals. However this time, they had to face the Rockets in the postseason. Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson secured a win in game 1, but later, the lights were too bright for them. The Lakers lost four straight games and in all of it, Reid was a key two-way player. 

Magic Johnson’s highest score in the series was just 24 points, which came in Game 5. Reid was phenomenal on defense and the Rockets made their second appearance in the finals. Sadly, in both 1981 and 86, the Rockets fell prey to Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics, which couldn’t get Reid a ring. Despite this, his resume was a decorated one, and his legacy will live on through it. 

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