Robert Reid, who played for the Houston Rockets in the late 1970s and most of the following decade, died Monday at the age of 68.
Reid, who spent 10 of his 13 NBA seasons with the Rockets, died after a battle with cancer.
“It is with great sadness that my family and I learned of the passing of Rockets legend Robert Reid,” Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday afternoon.
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Robert Reid of the Houston Rockets makes a layup during a game during the 1987-1988 season. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
“I have had the privilege of knowing Robert for over 40 years, and his presence always brought joy and positivity to any room he walked into. I will never forget watching the Rockets teams he was a part of in the '80s compete in the Finals and in the final. love he had for the game. My deepest condolences to his wife, Diana, and all those who loved him. Robert's absence will be deeply felt and he will be fondly remembered.”
Reid played in two NBA Finals with the Rockets in 1981 and 1986, but those teams lost to the Boston Celtics in the middle of their dynasty.
However, Larry Bird praised Reid for his solid defense in the '81 series: the Hall of Famer scored just eight points in Games 3 and 4 of that series in Houston while being guarded by Reid.
“I scored eight points in both games there. Suddenly Robert Reid is a huge defensive force,” Bird wrote, as covered by the Chronicle. “Robert is a good defensive player, but he's not a Michael Cooper. He couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. He couldn't make a shot, but otherwise, I thought he was playing good basketball.”
Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics looks to pass while being defended by Robert Reid of the Rockets during a game in Houston circa 1981. (Focus on sport/Getty Images)
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Reid retired in 1982, just before his sixth NBA season, after the Rockets traded Moses Malone, to devote his time to his Pentecostal faith. He also left the team the previous year due to what the New York Times called “resolving[ing] the conflicts between his basketball career and his religious beliefs.”
“You have loved ones who aren't interested in money and fame, they're just concerned about your soul,” Reid told the LA Times in 1985 about his decision to take a year off. “I decided to quit. I was done with professional basketball. It just wasn't important to me. I made my decision and it felt good.”
He returned to the Rockets in 1983 and averaged 14.0 points per game, which at the time had been the second-highest mark of his career.
Robert Reid of the Houston Rockets appears during a game in 1980. (Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Reid also played for the original Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers.
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