Walt Frazier

Clyde led the Knicks to two championships and is a Hall of Fame legend.

Walter "Clyde" Frazier Jr. (born March 29, 1945) is an American former professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As their floor general and top perimeter defender, he led the New York Knicks to the franchise's first two championships (1970 and 1973), and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1996, Frazier was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team. In 2021, he was again honored by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Upon his retirement from basketball, Frazier went into broadcasting; he is currently a color commentator for telecasts of Knicks games on the MSG Network alongside Mike Breen.

Quick Facts

Born: 29 March 1945
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
High school: David T. Howard (Atlanta, Georgia)
College: Southern Illinois (1963–1967)
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 5
Drafted by: New York Knicks
Career position: Point guard

Lore & Background

Frazier was born on March 29, 1945, in Atlanta, Georgia. The eldest of nine children, he attended Atlanta's David Tobias Howard High School, where he quarterbacked the football team and played catcher on the baseball team. He learned basketball on a rutted and dirt playground. He accepted a basketball scholarship from Southern Illinois University, saying 'there were no black quarterbacks, so I played basketball.' He became a premier collegiate player, leading SIU to the 1967 NIT championship and being named MVP of that tournament. Drafted fifth overall by the New York Knicks in 1967, he earned the nickname 'Clyde' for wearing a fedora similar to Warren Beatty's in Bonnie and Clyde. He was a 7-time NBA All-Star (1970–1976) and was named to 4 All-NBA First Teams (1970, 1972, 1974, 1975) and 2 All-NBA Second Teams (1971, 1973), as well as 7 NBA All-Defensive First Teams (1969–1975). He won NBA championships with the Knicks in 1970 and 1973. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1977 and retired midway through the 1979–80 season.

Reader's Guide

Frazier's no. 10 jersey was retired by the New York Knicks on December 15, 1979. His no. 52 jersey was retired by Southern Illinois University. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. He was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team in 1996 and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. In September 2022, he was honored with the Curt Gowdy Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Did You Know?

Frazier recorded 36 points, 7 rebounds, 19 assists, and 6 steals in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, one of the greatest playoff performances in NBA history.
He was drafted in the first round by the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association as well as by the Knicks.