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New York Knicks: Top five point guards in franchise history

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK - 1973: Walt Frazier #10 of the New York Knicks shoots a layup against the Boston Celtics during the Eastern Conference Finals played in 1973 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. Copyright 1973 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK - 1973: Walt Frazier #10 of the New York Knicks shoots a layup against the Boston Celtics during the Eastern Conference Finals played in 1973 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. Copyright 1973 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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UNDATED: New York Knicks’ guard Walt Frazier #10 shoots from the free throw line during a game. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
UNDATED: New York Knicks’ guard Walt Frazier #10 shoots from the free throw line during a game. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

1. Walt “Clyde” Frazier

Dick McGuire, Michael Ray Richardson, Stephon Marbury and Mark Jackson were all quality point guards for the New York Knicks, but none of them held the spot Walt “Clyde” Frazier did from 1967-77, as the franchise’s best player at this position.

Frazier, along with Willis Reed, was the face of Knicks basketball in the late ’60s and early ’70s, when the organization’s greatest success came to fruition. With two championships, it rose “Clyde” to the top of the Knicks hierarchy and made him one of the first legends.

Statistically, in 10 seasons, Frazier averaged 19.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists on 49.2 percent shooting in 38.2 minutes per game. He topped out at 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 1971-72, including an NBA All-Star game appearance.

Beyond that season, Frazier totaled seven NBA All-Star game appearances, all of which were consecutive, from 1970-76. He also took home the 1975 All-Star Game MVP award.

Along the way, Frazier made four All-NBA First Teams and seven All-Defensive First Teams. The Association did not track steals until 1973-74, but he registered five seasons of at least 1.5 steals.

Frazier went to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 1977 offseason transaction, which closed out a run that put him in the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987 and saw his No. 10 jersey retired.

Next. 25 greatest players in franchise history. dark

40 years after Frazier’s departure, he remains New York’s top point guard of all time. No one has come close, and no one on the current roster will approach what he did for 10 years.