Walt Frazier

Walter Frazier was born March 29, 1945 in Atlanta, GA. He was blessed with a unique court vision and quickness that made him an outstanding point guard for the New York Knicks of the NBA. During Frazier’s playing career with the Knicks he led them to their only 2 NBA Championships. He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1987.

Mr. Frazier earned the nickname of “Clyde” because of the hat that he wore was similar to what was used in the movie "Bonnie and Clyde" staring Warren Beatty. He was the eldest of nine kids. Walter attended Atlanta’s Howard High School in which you played football (quarterback) and baseball (catcher). He had to learn basketball on a rutted and dirt playground that was available to the all-black school during the 1950s, due to the racially segregated south. He attended Southern Illinois University, where he became a premier collegiate basketball player. In 1967 while Frazier was at SIU, he led them to the NIT beating Marquette University and he was named the MVP of the tournament.

He was drafted 5th in the 1967 NBA draft. He was a 7 time NBA All-Star, 4 time NBA First Team and 2 times to the NBA Second Team. Frazier was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on the eve of the 77-78 season were he played for 3 seasons then retired from the game after the 78-79 season with a foot ailment. Walter Frazier's jersey was retired by the New York Knicks on December 15, 1979 and in 1996, he was elected to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.