Walt Frazier: Difference between revisions
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==Professional career== |
==Professional career== |
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Frazier was drafted by the [[New York Knicks]] 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 in film|1967 movie]] ''[[Bonnie and Clyde (film)|Bonnie and Clyde]]''. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in [[1968]]. |
Frazier was drafted by the [[New York Knicks]] 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 in film|1967 movie]] ''[[Bonnie and Clyde (film)|Bonnie and Clyde]]''. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in [[1968]]. Although the Vietnam War was raging during those years, professional athletes were able to pursue careers without serving. Frazier was an NBA All-Star seven times (and was named MVP of the [[1975]] [[NBA All-Star Game|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 Finals|NBA championships]] in [[1970]] and [[1973]]. |
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Frazier ended his career as a member of the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]. |
Frazier ended his career as a member of the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]. |
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Revision as of 00:53, 6 June 2007
| File:Frazier with Santiago's3.jpg | |
| New York Knicks | |
|---|---|
| Position | Point guard |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 29, 1945 Atlanta, Georgia |
| Nationality | USA |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Southern Illinois |
| NBA draft | 1967: 1st round |
| Selected by the New York Knicks | |
| Playing career | 1967–1980 |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Walter "Clyde" Frazier (born March 29, 1945 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a retired American basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently a spokesman for Just for Men hair products and a commentator for telecasts of New York Knicks games.
High school and college
After having a great career at David Howard High School in Atlanta, Frazier's choices for furthering his career were limited. Due to the racial segregation policies of major colleges in Georgia, such as Georgia Tech[dubious – discuss] and the University of Georgia as well as all other major universities in the south, that did not admit African-Americans, Frazier chose to attend 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 Evansville 85-82 in overtime. In 1966, he was academically ineligible for basketball.
In 1967, with Frazier playing at point guard, SIU won the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), beating Marquette University 71-56. Frazier was named MVP of the 1967 tournament.
Professional career
Frazier was drafted by the New York Knicks 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. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1968. Although the Vietnam War was raging during those years, professional athletes were able to pursue careers without serving. Frazier was an NBA All-Star seven times (and was named MVP of the 1975 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.
Frazier ended his career as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Frazier held team 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). 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
Frazier would move on to become a commentator for New York Knicks games; first on radio and then on television. Knick fans love him for his quirky phrases and exclamation, many of which rhyme. Some favorite Frazier quotes from his days as a Knicks commentator:
'shaking and baking' penetrating and creating 'Ewing . . .doing!' 'swooping and hooping.' 'swishing and dishing' 'posting and toasting' 'fire and desire' 'hustle and muscle.' 'dancing and prancing' 'wheeling and dealing' 'articulating and devastating' 'Marbury is invinsible, indefensible right now.' 'out hustling out muscling.' 'moving and grooving'
'That's a serendipity right there."
'...with the matador D.'
'The Knicks are playing swiss cheese defense--the [team] are finding all the holes.'
'...with the good stuff.' (after a stylish dunk)
'The Knicks with the knack.'
'vociferous crowd....'
'precocious neophyte' (referring to a scared rookie)
"The (team name)'s D is very porous right now."
"Frye is starting to percolate with that shot right in front of the Heat bench",
"off to an auspicious start",
"The Knicks get a fortuitous bounce".
"Coach Isiah Thomas has asked Mr. Curry to add some resounding rebounding to complement his agility and mobility in the post."
'the Magic are tragic now.'
Honors
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.
Trivia
Frazier also was one of the "new breed" of athletes that emerged in the 1960s, such as Joe Namath and Dick Allen. While playing in New York, he was famous for dressing in a blaxploitation-inspired style that included long fur coats, fedora hats with feathers, sunglasses, and shirts with butterfly collars.
External links
- Basketball Hall of Fame profile
- Frazier's Career Statistics
- Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
- The Walt "Clyde" Frazier Dictionary
- Walt Frazier (in the New Georgia Encyclopedia)