Walt "Clyde" Frazier

KNICKS ANALYST

New York icon and basketball legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier serves as the Knicks television analyst on MSG Networks, alongside nationally recognized and Hall of Fame play-by-play announcer Mike Breen.

The former Knicks star began his broadcasting career at MSG Networks in 1987, first in radio and then on television. He started his television career shortly after retiring in 1980, serving as an NBA analyst for TBS in 1981, where he broadcasted Hawks games in his hometown of Atlanta.

Frazier played in New York for 10 years, averaging 19.3 points per game, and helped the Knicks capture two NBA Championships (1969-70 and 1972-73). He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986, along with Rick Barry and the late “Pistol” Pete Maravich.

In 2022, Frazier was inducted again into the Hall of Fame after receiving the prestigious Curt Gowdy Award, an annual award given to outstanding achievements in basketball writing and broadcasting. Now a two-time Hall of Famer, Frazier holds the impressive distinction of being the first individual to go into the Hall of Fame as both a player and broadcaster. Since joining MSG Networks, Frazier has also been honored with a number of New York Emmy Awards for his work covering the Knicks.

Frazier was nicknamed “Clyde” by former Knicks backup center Nate Bowman who thought his stylish hats and smooth talk likened him to Warren Beatty’s character in the movie “Bonnie and Clyde.” Frazier brings an innovative approach to the broadcasting booth by using an array of rhymes and a very impressive vocabulary during telecasts. He carries a dictionary in his pocket and is often found reading it when traveling with the team.

After leading Southern Illinois to a National Invitation Tournament Championship in 1967, Frazier was drafted by the Knicks in the first round of the NBA Draft that same year. Throughout his storied playing career, he was named to the NBA’s All-Star Team seven times. He played three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1977-78 to 1979-80 before officially retiring. Frazier was the Knicks all-time leading scorer until Patrick Ewing broke his record for career points during the 1993-94 season. He is especially remembered for his inspirational performance in the seventh and deciding game of the thrilling 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers when he scored an astounding 36 points and had 19 assists to lead the Knicks franchise to its first NBA championship.

Frazier’s uniform number (10) was formally retired to the Madison Square Garden rafters on December 15, 1979. In 1996, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, as part of the league’s Golden Anniversary. He was then named to the NBA’s 75 greatest players list as part of the league’s 75^th anniversary celebration in 2021. Frazier is also a member of the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame and the Georgia Hall of Fame. His college uniform number (52) has been retired by Southern Illinois University.

Since he began his Knicks career in 1967, Frazier has been a staple of the New York community and continues to be an integral part of the city’s sports scene. Often seen signing autographs at Madison Square Garden, he continues to give back to New York City, making numerous appearances every year on behalf of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, which aids New York area kids in crisis. In 1996, Frazier opened The Walt Frazier Youth Foundation, an organization that helps inner-city high school students’ gain the hope needed to achieve their full potential.

Frazier lives in Manhattan, but spends a great deal of time in St. Croix in the Virgin Islands where he owns a bed and breakfast. He also enjoys gardening, jogging, sailing and reading the Arts and Leisure section of The New York Times. He has one son, Walt III, and one daughter, Angel.