In May 2025, Walt Frazier reflected on his bond with the New York Knicks and their many fans. It is often said that New York is basketball as it gets and Frazier, having played for the Knicks, attested to that.
Interestingly, the Hall of Famer said he not only felt that during his tenure from 1967 to 1977, but even many decades later. Clyde is certain why as he shared during an interview for “City Game,” a book about basketball in NYC.
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“When you win in New York City the people never forget you,”he emphasized, per andscape.
New York’s obsession with winning
When Frazier, a former Southern Illinois standout and the fifth overall pick in 1967, arrived in New York, he was as well known for his sharp clothing as for his on-court skills. It wasn’t an entirely desirable connection. The rookie point guard often used his flamboyant wardrobe to compensate for early struggles while the Knicks were still finding their footing.
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Reflecting on when everything changed — and, in a broader sense, the beginning of his lasting bond with the city — Clyde said it all began once success arrived on the hardwood. Knicks fans have always been famously obsessed with winning and it was no different back then, the 1975 NBA All-Star Game MVP recalled.
“Winning is the key in New York City,” remarked Frazier. This is exactly what the former 6’4″ guard and his teammates eventually achieved.
From rings to immortality
By his second season, the team posted a winning record for the first time in eight years. They reached the Division Finals the following year, ultimately falling to the iconic Boston Celtics in six hard-fought games.
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The ultimate symbol of winning arrived in Frazier’s third year in the Big Apple. Under head coach Red Holzman, the Knicks dominated the regular season. Then they marched to the NBA Finals, where the team — also featuring Willis Reed, Dick Barnett and Dave DeBusschere — defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in a thrilling seven-game series.
Two years later, the Knicks returned to the Finals but lost. Still, the following season, they faced Los Angeles again. They claimed the championship with a commanding 4-1 gentleman’s sweep, giving Frazier his second and final ring in New York.
Looking back on those championship titles, Frazier is certain of one thing. He and his teammates were able to satisfy the fans’ hunger for success and, in doing so, forged an everlasting bond with New York.
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Clyde noted that this connection is especially powerful because the legacy of past champions is passed down throughout the city, a fact he sees clearly whenever he visits schools.
“There’s going to be one kid at least who knows who Walt Frazier is or Willis Reed or who has heard of us,” explained the seven-time All-Star.
Winning an NBA championship is tough enough on its own. Add the pressure of New York fans, who demand nothing less than victory and it becomes even more challenging.
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That said, when Knicks players do rise to the occasion, the rewards are unlike those with any other team, as it can make them almost immortal in the eyes of the city. Frazier emphasized this, pointing to himself and his teammates, who even 50 years after their title wins are still talked about in the Big Apple.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.