NBA Draft: 30 greatest draft picks in league history
27. . Point Guard. Southern Illinois Salukis, 1967 (No. 5). Walt Frazier. 20. player
Greatest NBA Draft picks in league history: Walt Frazier, New York Knicks
The charismatic Walt “Clyde” Frazier was a multi-sport athlete growing up, playing quarterback and catcher as well as basketball. Although he was offered scholarships as a football player, he did not want to accept that black players were forced out of quarterbacking, choosing instead to play basketball at Southern Illinois University.
After two years dominating Division-II competition, Southern Illinois and Frazier moved up to Division I, defeating Marquette University in the NIT championship. Frazier won MVP for that 1967 tournament.
The 6-foot-4 point guard was then selected No. 5 overall by the New York Knicks, where he would play the next 10 years of his career.
Nestled between the primes of Oscar Robertson and Bob Cousy before, and Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas after, Frazier became the premier point guard of the 1970s. Frazier made six All-NBA squads, including four First-Team nods, as well as seven NBA All-Star appearances and seven NBA All-Defensive team selections.
His most lasting legacy for the Knicks are the two titles he helped to bring home, in 1970 and 1973. In particular, Frazier submitted what might be the greatest Game 7 performance in the history of the NBA, dropping 36 points, seven rebounds, 19 assists and six steals in closing out the Los Angeles Lakers.
At the time he left the team (traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers), Frazier was the franchise leader in most statistical categories. His 113.5 win shares are behind only Patrick Ewing in franchise history.