"Clyde" and Style: The NBA’s First Playboy Star

Frazier's nickname "Clyde" came from the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde—he resembled Clyde Barrow in his wide-brimmed hat and swagger. The nickname became the NBA's first real "star personal brand."

He was the first player to turn off-court style into a signature: fur coats, sunglasses, scarves, a roaring sports car—game-day Clyde outshone on-court Clyde. As television spread and stars gained national fame, Frazier made "basketball player" feel like a fashion icon for the first time.

But don't be fooled by the flash—his style never hurt his game. That cool was precisely the mental edge he used to overwhelm opponents on the floor.

Related Reading

• Walt Frazier: The Wide-Brimmed "Clyde" and New York’s Two Rings
• Hall of Fame and No. 10: New York’s Eternal Tribute to "Clyde"
• 1973 Again: Frazier’s Finals MVP and Revenge on the Lakers
• 1970 Finals Game 7: 36 Points, 19 Assists, Frazier’s Coronation
• The Honor Map: Two Rings, One Finals MVP, Seven All-Star Nods