Walt Frazier
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Walter "Clyde" Frazier (born March 29, 1945 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American former basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently a spokesman for Just for Men hair products and a color commentator for telecasts of New York Knicks games.
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[edit] 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 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.
[edit] 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. He 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.
[edit] Broadcasting
Frazier would move on to become a color commentator for New York Knicks games; first on radio and then on television. Frazier's unique style has made him a favorite among fans. This includes using big words and talking in rhymes. Some favorite Frazier quotes from his days as a Knick commentator: 'swishing and dishing along the baseline'; 'Ewing . . .doing!'; 'swooping and hooping.'; 'hustle and muscle.' '...with the matador D.'; 'The Knicks are playing swiss cheese defense--the Hornets are finding all the holes.'; '...with the good stuff.' (after a stylish dunk).
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] External links
Barnett | Bowman | Bradley | DeBusschere | Frazier | Hosket | May | Reed (Finals MVP) | Riordan | C. Russell | Stallworth | Warren | Coach Holzman
Categories: 1945 births | African American basketball players | American basketball players | People from Atlanta | Cleveland Cavaliers players | New York Knicks players | Basketball Hall of Fame | National Basketball Association broadcasters | Living people | Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball players | The NBA on TBS
