Frazier makes splash in visit

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2001 | 10:32 a.m.

Long before there were Kobes or Air Jordans, there were the Clydes, made by Puma, and named after New York Knicks point guard and Hall of Famer Walt "Clyde" Frazier.

Back then, Frazier was oblivious to the fact that he was making history by being the first NBA player with his own shoe contract.

All he knew was that kids in the New York area had to have a pair of the kicks that came in an assortment of colors, and he was fortunate enough to have his name on them.

"Kids would kind of worship them," Frazier remembered of his signature shoe. "They wouldn't wear them in the rain.

"It showed a lot of respect for me. My shoe represented style. They wore them dressing up. They protected them. They had pride wearing a pair of Clydes."

The same way the 6-foot-4 Frazier took pride in being a multi-faceted player.

Frazier coached the 76ers in the NBA Entertainment League charity basketball game that benefited the NBA Read to Achieve and Reading is Fundamental programs at the Cox Pavilion Monday night.

Dressed in a blue NBA Hardwood Classics button-up shirt with the old 1969-76 Knicks logo stitched on the back and khaki pants, Frazier has toned down the way he dresses off the court. But he hasn't forgotten his signature style -- which is one of the differences he noted between today's NBA players and those of his generation.

Frazier earned his nickname "Clyde" after fabled bank robber Clyde Barrow for two reasons. The first was because of the way he would steal the ball from opponents. The second, Frazier said, was because of the fine fedoras he would wear to go with his flashy outfits that often consisted of fur coats, alligator shoes and monogrammed cuffs.

"It's kind of ironic because when I was in college, I wore penny loafers and button-down shirts," Frazier said in between laughs. "Then coming to New York, the mecca for everything, you had to look good.

"In those days we used to dress, not like these players who are always looking casual. Everybody on the team was trying to outdress each other all the time."

Frazier played with the Knicks from 1967-77 and spent his final three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He finished with career averages of 18.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.

He was a seven-time All-Star (1970-76), was named to the NBA's all-defensive first team seven times (1969, 1970, 1971-75) and voted onto the NBA's all-first team four times.

Frazier remains the Knicks all-time assists leader (4,791). He guided the Knicks to the NBA title in 1970 and 1973.

"As a guard, he's the standard," current Knicks guard Allan Houston said. "We know we probably won't be able to achieve the things he achieved.

"I have watched tapes of Walt playing. What impresses me the most about him is how he can get a triple-double and play incredible defense. Most guards who can score aren't able to play defense like Walt did. He would get you five or six steals like it was nothing. I take that and learn from that."

Today, he gets his basketball fix as a TV color analyst during Knicks games.

"For me, it's the next best thing to playing," Frazier said. "I've been able to see the evolution of the game.

"The players are much taller, faster, quicker. Also, the popularity of the game has risen. When I was playing, we weren't making astronomical salaries, the arenas weren't packed. It makes me proud to see how many people show up to watch the games."

Before the NBA logo was fashioned after Hall of Famer Jerry West, many clamored that it should have been Frazier as the subject of the logo's silhouette.

Frazier harbors no animosity toward West nor did he ever want to have his shadow in the logo, but doesn't think one player should have had the honor.

"They should not have singled out one guy to be the logo," Frazier said. "There were too many phenomenal players. There's (Bill) Russell, (Wilt) Chamberlain, too many guys, so why do you pick one guy?

"I don't think they should have done that. It causes animosity. I don't mind, I have a lot of respect for Jerry, but I know I'm different. So I'm sure there are some other players who said, 'Why aren't I on there?' "