Walt Frazier: The Wide-Brimmed "Clyde" and New York’s Two Rings

In the retro portrait of the NBA, Walter "Clyde" Frazier is the most cinematic figure: sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, a fur coat, a roaring sports car, and on the court a defense as cold as ice.

He was the backcourt brain behind the Knicks' two championships (1970, 1973) alongside Willis Reed—the soul of a team that "won without a superstar." In the 1970 Game 7 he poured in 36 points and 19 assists, carrying the injured Reed on his back; in 1973 he added a Finals MVP, completing revenge on the Lakers.

Frazier redefined the point guard: win with defense, split the defense with one-handed bounce passes, and control the game with tempo rather than speed. He was also the first NBA star to turn his off-court persona into a brand—Clyde was more than a nickname, it was an attitude.

Related Reading

• 1973 Again: Frazier’s Finals MVP and Revenge on the Lakers
• Hall of Fame and No. 10: New York’s Eternal Tribute to "Clyde"
• 1970 Finals Game 7: 36 Points, 19 Assists, Frazier’s Coronation
• Frazier and Reed: The Knicks’ Inside-Outside Core
• "Clyde" and Style: The NBA’s First Playboy Star