Frazier with fans signing a basketball
Walter "Clyde" Frazier (born March 29, 1945, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American former basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was blessed with a unique combination of court vision, quickness, and size (he stands 6'4") for a guard. As their floor general, he led the New York Knicks to the franchise's only two NBA Championships (1970 & 1973), and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. Upon his retirement from basketball, Frazier went into broadcasting; he is currently a color commentator for telecasts of Knicks games on the MSG Network.
High school and colleges[edit]
The eldest of nine children, Frazier attended Atlanta's David Tobias Howard High School. He quarterbacked the football team and played catcher on the baseball team. He learned basketball on a rutted and dirt playground, the only facility available at his all-black school in the racially segregated South of the 1950s. After having a great career at Howard, Frazier attended Southern Illinois University. Although he was offered other scholarships for his football skills, Frazier accepted a basketball offer from Southern Illinois University.
Frazier wasted no time in becoming one of the premier collegiate basketball players in the country. He was named a Division II All-American in 1964 and 1965. In 1965, Frazier led SIU to the NCAA Division II Tournament only to lose in the finals to Jerry Sloan and the Evansville Purple Aces 85-82 in overtime. In 1966, he was academically ineligible for basketball.
In 1967, Frazier and SIU won the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), beating Marquette University 71-56 in the final at Madison Square Garden in New York. Frazier was named MVP of the 1967 tournament.
Professional career[edit]
Frazier was selected by the New York Knicks with the 5th pick in the 1967 NBA Draft and played for them during which time he picked up the nickname "Clyde" because he wore a similar hat to Warren Beatty who played Clyde Barrow in the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde.[1] He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1968. He was an NBA All-Star seven times (and was named MVP of the 1975 NBA All-Star Game), was named to the All-NBA First Team four times, the All-NBA Second Team twice, and the All-Defensive First Team seven times. With Frazier, the Knicks captured the NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. After 10 years in New York, Frazier ended his career as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the LA Lakers, widely known for an injured Willis Reed's inspiring appearance onto the court, it was Clyde who was the unsung hero putting up an astounding 36 points and 19 assists leading the Knicks to their first NBA championship.
In 1971, the New York Knicks traded for fellow NBA guard Earl "the Pearl" Monroe to form what was known as the "Rolls Royce Backcourt" with Frazier. While there were initial questions as to whether Frazier and Monroe could coexist as teammates, the duo eventually meshed to become one of the most effective guard combinations of all time, leading the Knicks to the 1973 NBA championship. That pairing is one of few backcourts ever to feature two Hall of Famers and NBA 50th Anniversary Team members.
Frazier held Knicks franchise records for most games (759), minutes played (28,995), field goals attempted (11,669), field goals made (5,736), free throws attempted (4,017), free throws made (3,145), assists (4,791) and points (14,617). Center Patrick Ewing would eventually break most of those records, but Frazier's assists record still stands.
Frazier was also one of the first players to make stealing the ball an art form. He would make sudden steals and surprise the offense. When asked about his defensive success, he answered that he did not believe in contact defense. Instead, he defended in such a manner that it appeared he was not playing defense. When he did so, the offensive player was often tricked into letting his guard down whereby Frazier would steal the ball with his quick hands.
Broadcasting career[edit]
Frazier currently works as a commentator alongside Mike Breen for MSG Network telecasts of Knicks games. He also worked with Breen previously on the radio broadcasts before his switch to television in 1997, and also worked on Knicks games with Marv Albert. As a broadcaster, Frazier has coined many rhyming phrases, such as "dishing and swishing", "duping and hooping", "posting and toasting," "stopping and popping," "winning and grinning," "using and abusing," "shaking and baking," "hustling and bustling," "bounding and astounding," "flaunting and taunting," as well as others. Frazier also did broadcasting work for TBS in the 80's.
Restaurant[edit]
Since March 2012, Frazier has owned and operated a themed restaurant in New York City called Clyde Frazier's Wine and Dine. It is located a 485 10th Avenue and features a small basketball court. He often visits the restaurant to mingle with fans.
Walt Frazier's #10 jersey was retired by the New York Knicks on December 15, 1979.
In 1987, Walt Frazier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with Pete Maravich and Rick Barry.
In 1996, he was elected to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Career statistics[edit]
Career highs[edit]
Top assist games[edit]
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Occurred in playoff competition |
40 point games[edit]
Frazier scored 40 or more points five times in the regular season.
Regular season[edit]
| Stat |
High |
Opponent |
Date |
| Points |
44 |
at Los Angeles Lakers |
01973-11-02November 2, 1973 |
| Points, half (2nd) |
29 |
vs. Cincinnati Royals |
01972-01-01January 1, 1972 |
| Field goal percentage |
18—22 (.818) |
at Buffalo Braves |
01971-12-17December 17, 1971 |
| Field goals made |
20 |
at Los Angeles Lakers |
01973-11-02November 2, 1973 |
| Field goal attempts |
28 |
at Los Angeles Lakers |
01973-11-02November 2, 1973 |
| Free throws made, none missed |
— |
|
|
| Free throws made, one missed |
— |
|
|
| Free throws made |
17 |
at Indiana Pacers |
01977-03-31March 31, 1977 |
| Free throw attempts |
20 |
at Indiana Pacers |
01977-03-31March 31, 1977 |
| Rebounds |
16 |
|
|
| Steals |
6 |
at Indiana Pacers |
01977-03-31March 31, 1977 |
| Blocked shots |
|
|
|
Playoffs[edit]
| Stat |
High |
Opponent |
Date |
| Points |
38 |
|
|
| Field goal percentage |
|
|
|
| Field goals made |
16 |
|
|
| Field goal attempts |
31 |
|
|
| Free throws made, none missed |
12—12 |
vs. Los Angeles Lakers |
01970-05-08May 8, 1970 |
| Free throws made, one missed |
— |
|
|
| Free throws made |
12 |
vs. Los Angeles Lakers |
01970-05-08May 8, 1970 |
| Free throw attempts |
15 |
|
|
| Rebounds |
16 |
|
|
| Assists |
19 |
vs. Los Angeles Lakers |
01970-05-08May 8, 1970 |
| Steals |
|
|
|
| Blocked shots |
|
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|
- While he was a steely, no-nonsense competitor in games, Frazier was known for his flamboyant sense of style off of the court. He used his "Clyde" persona to bring glamor to Madison Square Garden, Frazier would arrive at games in a Rolls Royce, dressed in designer suits, broad-brimmed Borsalino hats, and full-length mink coats.
- Frazier is well known as a spokesman for Just for Men hair products, along with former New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez. Denzel Washington's character "Keith Frazier" in the film Inside Man was named after the duo.
- Frazier became one of the first NBA players to have his own signature shoe model when he endorsed the eponymous suede Clydes athletic shoes made by Puma. The shoe has proven to be very popular over the years, and is in its third decade of production.
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Frazier, Walt |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
American basketball player |
| Date of birth |
March 29, 1945 |
| Place of birth |
Atlanta, Georgia |
| Date of death |
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