New York Knicks: Walt “Clyde” Frazier’s legend of style

The PUMA King

Before Clyde, players played in sneakers, but they didn’t get paid to wear those sneakers. They definitely didn’t design their own shoes. That, of course, changed with Clyde.

In the same 2016 GQ article, Clyde explains how he came to design his shoes. When he was first approached by Puma, the German sneaker company offered him the NBA’s first paid sneaker endorsement which was $5,000. They made a sneaker in the early ’70s Clyde told them they “couldn’t pay him to wear.” So he was asked to help design a shoe he would wear.

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That’s when they came up with the Puma Clyde. Frazier and the company designed a shoe that was lighter and more flexible than what was available to him at the time. Clyde’s are still sold today. You could say they were the forerunner of Air Jordans. On June 18, 2018, the legend entered into the first-ever life-long contract with Puma.

Is Clyde still “fly” today?

Oh yes, he is. Today Clyde is one of the announcers for the Knicks’ games. His colors are bolder, the designs are definitely more flamboyant. Clyde, really wore a yellow or red cow print? Yes, he has worn cow printed suits to the Garden. No matter, that’s just Clyde, the Legend of Style at the Mecca of New York and we will always love him for it.

What are some of your favorite Clyde fashion memories? Share them with us in the comments section below or on social media.