Walt Frazier Biography

Walt Frazier, born March 29, 1945, is an American former professional basketball player who competed in the National Basketball Association. As floor general and top perimeter defender, he led the New York Knicks to championships in 1970 and 1973 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1996, he was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team, honoring him as one of the league's greatest players of all time. Frazier accepted a basketball scholarship from Southern Illinois University, choosing the sport over football due to limited opportunities for Black quarterbacks. He was named Most Valuable Player in the 1967 tournament during his collegiate career. Frazier was selected fifth overall by the New York Knicks in 1967 and averaged 9.0 points per game during the 1967–68 season, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Team. On October 30, 1969, he recorded 43 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 123–110 victory over the Houston Rockets.