Some people might claim, that basketball is an art form. And they do have a point. Elegance is basically everywhere. A cross over here, incredible hang time there. And don’t forget about those perfect shooting forms. It’s all poetry in motion. Of course though, some players are more elegant than others. Some do feed off their power, some do almost float around the hardwood, looking as if they were on the verge of finishing up a perfect sculpture even Leonardo da Vinci would have been jealous of.
The Hardwood’s Fred Astair
Some players do actually take an artistic approach to the game – or at least, they give the impression. Even today those players are rare though. Back in the 70s, they were totally unique. He “is the only player I’ve ever seen whom I would describe as an artist, who takes an artistic approach to the game.“ That’s what Bill Bradley had to say about his then teammate Walt Frazier.
A guy who, according to one sportswriter, moved on the court as Fred Astair did on the dance floor. A guy whose “simplest gestures dripping with elegance,” whose “sultry play was the physical equivalent of a Southern drawl.” In other words: Where others might have chosen an emphatic dunk, Frazier went for the smooth layup. Where others relied on pure power, Frazier chose elegance. Style mattered. A lot. Because that is what Frazier was all about: style. It even transcended from the hardwood to the streets. Or the other way round? Anyhow, had the NBA given away a “Best Dressed” Award, Frazier most likely would have taken it home. Bespoke suits. Furs. Expensive shoes. Even off the court, Frazier brought the total package. Job description: basketball pro/fashion icon.
A Fedora. A Movie. Clyde.
Of course, no one can exactly tell when it all started. Yet, there is this one story that should shape Frazier’s legacy forever. With his rookie season not going too well, Frazier was looking for some distraction. Hence, during an away trip he – of course – went shopping. Frazier strolled around the streets of Baltimore and all of a sudden saw what he unconsciously had always been looking for. Lying in a shop window, there it was: a brown fedora by Borsalino.
Frazier loved it. He bought it – and got laughed down. Needless to say, that he didn’t care. Frazier liked his new fedora. It suited him. And style… you know where I’m getting at. So? It was simply a hat, right? Well, yes and no. Maybe we wouldn’t be talking about the fedora today, had the cinemas not been showing “Bonnie & Clyde” at the exact same time Frazier bought his hat. Maybe it wouldn’t be that much of a story, had the fedora not perfectly resembled the one, Warren Beatty a.k.a. Clyde had worn in the picture. It did though and Fraziers teammates took notice. “Look, there is Clyde,” is what they said when they spotted Frazier entering the locker room.
With that phrase, Walt “Clyde” Frazier was born. The basketball player/fashion icon had taken his first step towards his legacy. Of course, all that would not have mattered as much, had Clyde’s poor play continued. Instead, half way through Clyde’s rookie season, the Knicks hired Willam “Red” Holzman as their new head coach. With the new guy in charge, the team’s focus shifted to aggressive defense. Something that couldn’t have fitted Clyde’s style better.
Success in Style
Thanks to hands “faster than a lizard’s tongue” (one opponent) Clyde piled up steals. He was the spear head of a defense that would dominate the NBA for years to come. Yet, at the same time, Clyde was able to take over offensively. When topscorer Willis Reed went down in game 5 of the 1970 finals, came back for the first two buckets in game 7 to make the Madison Square Garden explode and had to sit again afterwards, Clyde took over. He put up 36 points and 19 assists, leading the Knicks to their first title in franchise history.
Still, during that game a defensive possession stood out. When Jerry West calmly dribbled the ball towards the Knicks’ half, Clyde exploded. He stole the ball, initiated the fast break and finished it with a layup – of course. A whistle blew. West had fouled, so Clyde went to the line. And 1! West was demoralized. The Lakers were demoralized. The Knicks had them – thanks to Clyde.
Now, only three years after his slow start to his pro career, he was on top. And Clyde was there to stay. Three years later he added another championship. When he retired, he had made the All-Star Game seven times, the All-NBA First Team 4 times, the All-NBA Defensive First Team seven times. Clyde knew how to dominate. And, of course, he did so in style. He was as much known for his stylish attire and after-hours partying as for his nerve-wrecking defense. Clyde was seen on magazine covers, at photo shoots – in short: He presented loads of marketing opportunities.
Loud and Flashy – The Puma Clyde OG Flag
So in the end it was only fair that he was among the first athletes to be payed to wear a basketball sneaker. Puma had liked what they had seen in Clyde and made him Michael Jordan before Michael Jordan was even close to playing in the NBA. Before Air Jordans there was the Puma Clyde. A sneaker as stylish as its eponym. A sneaker that combined a simple silhouette with a premium suede upper. A sneaker that quickly became a classic.
Some silhouettes come and go, the Puma “Clyde” stayed for decades. Generation after generation incorporated the shoe onto their list of favorites. It’s a classic as they say. Now, Puma is giving the Clyde the perfect Clyde Frazier look. Loud. Flashy. Stylish. The Puma Clyde OG Flag comes in three different colorways that all feature bright colors, perfectly suited to set a statement. Bright Gold here, Black/Electric Blue and Barbados Cerry Red there. It’s elegance mixed with style. A rare combination that is pretty artsy in its own right!
Shop the Puma Clyde OG Flag Pack at KICKZ:
