Walt Frazier

Walt Frazier is a former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association, best known for his career with the New York Knicks. He is a two-time NBA Champion, in 1970 and 1973. He is also a 7-time NBA All-Star and was named the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1975.

After he retired in 1979, the Knicks retired jersey number 10 in his honor.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Walter “Clyde” Frazier Jr. was born on March 29, 1945, in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America. He stands 193 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 91 kg.

He has a son named Walt Jr., later called Walt III.

High School and College Career

He played high school basketball for David Tobias Howard High School where he also played high school football. He was later offered a scholarship at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He chose to play basketball over football.

While there, he was named the NIT MVP in 1967 and was also the NIT Champion in the same year. The university later retired jersey number 52 in his honor.

Professional Career

He was drafted into the NBA by the New York Knicks during the 1967 NBA Draft. He was the 5th overall pick in the first round. In 1968, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. The following year, he was named an NBA All-Star for the first time. He would be named an All-Star 7 times in total.

Also in 1970, he was part of the Knicks team that became the NBA Champions. He won his second NBA Championship in 1973, also with the Knicks. He set many franchise records for the team and is widely considered one of the top Knicks players. That is why it angered many fans when he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1977.

He played only 66 games for the Cavaliers and announced his retirement midway through the 1979-1980 season. In December 1979, the Knicks retired Frazier’s jersey number. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1996, he was also named one of the 50 Greatest Players in the NBA. In 2021, he was named to the 75th NBA Anniversary team.

Career Highlights

• 1970, 1973 - NBA champion
• 1970–1976 - NBA All-Star
• 1975 - NBA All-Star Game MVP
• 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975 - All-NBA First Team
• 1971, 1973 - All-NBA Second Team
• 1969–1975 - NBA All-Defensive First Team
• 1968 - NBA All-Rookie First Team

• NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
• No. 10 retired by New York Knicks

• 1967 - NIT champion
• 1967 - NIT MVP

• No. 52 retired by Southern Illinois Salukis

• Basketball Hall of Fame - 1987
• College Basketball Hall of Fame -2006

Career Statistics

• Points - 15,581 (18.9 ppg)
• Rebounds - 4,830 (5.9 rpg)
• Assists - 5,040 (6.1 apg)