Walt Frazier

Walt Frazier

Born: March 29, 1945
Age: 79
Popularity:
Please login to contact Walt Frazier...
Email:
Password:
Don't have an account yet?  Join FanPal.com Today!
Biography

Walter "Clyde" Frazier (born March 29, 1945) is an American former basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). As their floor general, he led the New York Knicks to the franchise's only two NBA Championships (1970 and 1973), and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. Upon his retirement from basketball, Frazier went into broadcasting; he is currently a color commentator for telecasts of Knicks games on the MSG Network.

Read more...

High school and college

The eldest of nine children, Frazier attended Atlanta's David Tobias Howard High School. He quarterbacked the football team and played catcher on the baseball team. He learned basketball on a rutted and dirt playground, the only facility available at his all-black school in the racially segregated South of the 1950s. After Howard, Frazier attended Southern Illinois University. Although he was offered other scholarships for his football skills, Frazier accepted a basketball offer from Southern Illinois University.

Frazier became one of the premier collegiate basketball players in the country. He was named a Division II All-American in 1964 and 1965. As a sophomore in 1965, Frazier led SIU to the NCAA Division II Tournament only to lose in the finals to Jerry Sloan and the Evansville Purple Aces 85-82 in overtime. In 1966, he was academically ineligible for basketball.

SIU moved up from Division II to Division I. In 1967, Frazier and SIU won the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), beating Marquette University 71-56 in the final in the last college basketball game played at the old Madison Square Garden in New York. Frazier was named MVP of the 1967 tournament.

Professional career

New York Knicks

Frazier was selected by the New York Knicks with the 5th pick in the 1967 NBA draft. While playing for them, he picked up the nickname "Clyde" due to wearing 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 NBA 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.

In 1971, the New York Knicks traded for star guard Earl "the Pearl" Monroe to form what was known as the "Rolls Royce Backcourt" with Frazier. While there were initial questions as to whether Frazier and Monroe could coexist as teammates, the duo eventually meshed to become one of the most effective guard combinations of all time, leading the Knicks to the 1973 NBA championship. That pairing is one of few backcourts ever to feature two Hall of Famers and NBA 50th Anniversary Team members.

Frazier held Knicks franchise 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). Center Patrick Ewing would eventually break most of those records, but Frazier's assists record still stands.

Cleveland Cavaliers

After 10 years in New York, Frazier ended his career as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He retired in 1980.

Honors

Won 2 NBA championships (1970, 1973) with the New York Knicks. 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.

In September of 2012, Frazier was honored by the Ride of Fame and a double decker tour bus in New York City was dedicated to him.

Career statistics

Career highs

Top assist games

Occurred in playoff competition
Assists Opponent Home/Away Date Minutes
played
Points Rebounds
19 Los Angeles Lakers Home 000000001970-05-08-0000May 8, 1970 44 36 7
17 Baltimore Bullets Away 000000001969-03-30-0000March 30, 1969 44 26 7
16 Philadelphia 76ers Away 000000001969-01-22-0000January 22, 1969 22
16 Los Angeles Lakers Home 000000001969-02-18-0000February 18, 1969 30
16 Philadelphia 76ers Away 000000001969-03-09-0000March 9, 1969 18
16 San Francisco Warriors Home 000000001969-10-23-0000October 23, 1969 18
16 Phoenix Suns Away 000000001969-12-28-0000December 28, 1969 42 12 1

40 point games

Frazier scored 40 or more points five times in the regular season.

Points Opponent Home/Away Date Minutes
played
FGM FGA FTM FTA Rebounds Assists
44 Los Angeles Lakers Away 000000001973-11-02-0000November 2, 1973 46 20 28 4 4 7 5
43 San Diego Rockets Home 000000001969-10-30-0000October 30, 1969 14 22 15 19
43 Phoenix Suns Away 000000001975-01-11-0000January 11, 1975 48 17 24 9 10 3 5
41 Cincinnati Royals Home 000000001972-01-01-0000January 1, 1972 45 17 24 7 8 9 3
41 Indiana Pacers Away 000000001977-03-31-0000March 31, 1977 45 12 20 17 20 7 11

Regular season

Stat High Opponent Date
Points 44 at Los Angeles Lakers 000000001973-11-02-0000November 2, 1973
Points, half 29 vs. Cincinnati Royals 000000001972-01-01-0000January 1, 1972
Field goal percentage 18—22 (.818) at Buffalo Braves 000000001971-12-17-0000December 17, 1971
Field goals made 20 at Los Angeles Lakers 000000001973-11-02-0000November 2, 1973
Field goal attempts 28 at Los Angeles Lakers 000000001973-11-02-0000November 2, 1973
Free throws made 17 at Indiana Pacers 000000001977-03-31-0000March 31, 1977
Free throw attempts 20 vs. Seattle SuperSonics 000000001969-12-02-0000December 2, 1969
Free throw attempts 20 at Indiana Pacers 000000001977-03-31-0000March 31, 1977
Rebounds 16
Steals 6 at Indiana Pacers 000000001977-03-31-0000March 31, 1977
Blocked shots

Playoffs

Stat High Opponent Date
Points 38 vs. Capital Bullets 000000001974-04-07-0000April 7, 1974
Points 38 at Boston Celtics 000000001974-04-19-0000April 19, 1974
Field goal percentage
Field goals made 16 vs. Capital Bullets 000000001974-04-07-0000April 7, 1974
Field goal attempts 31
Free throws made, none missed 12—12 vs. Los Angeles Lakers 000000001970-05-08-0000May 8, 1970
Free throws made 12 vs. Los Angeles Lakers 000000001970-05-08-0000May 8, 1970
Free throw attempts 15 at Boston Celtics 000000001972-04-23-0000April 23, 1972
Rebounds 16 vs. Baltimore Bullets 000000001970-04-02-0000April 2, 1970
Assists 19 vs. Los Angeles Lakers 000000001970-05-08-0000May 8, 1970
Steals
Blocked shots

[ Source: Wikipedia ]


Terms Privacy Join Contact
Contact Any Star FanPal • 2024