The death of Knicks legend Dave DeBusschere yesterday sent shock waves through the NBA community, starting with the players who teamed with him to give New York some of its greatest sports memories.

Willis Reed, who recently saw DeBusschere at a charity event on Staten Island and had remained close to his former frontcourt mate over the last 30-plus years, was too broken up to do interviews.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of Dave's passing," Reed, the captain of the two Knicks championship teams of the early '70s, said in a statement. "He had a profound impact on the landscape of professional basketball, both as a player and an executive. Dave was a great teammate, as well as a great friend."