by Walt “Clyde” Frazier knows what it looks like.
He has played on championship Knicks teams.
He followed those who came close to him.
The legendary Knicks player and commentator believes that the current team, strengthened by the signing of Mikal Bridges, has what it takes to make its breakthrough sometime soon after two consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“I see the mood,” Frazier said on Friday. “I see a lot of similarities with [our] Championship teams, starting with the coach. [Tom Thibodeau] is very similar to Red Holzman. He demands responsibility from the guys, they are defensively oriented and the players actually like each other.
“I think this is going to be our year. Obviously health is going to play a big part in that. But if the Knicks stay healthy, I think we can return to our former greatness.”
Frazier, 79, attended the inaugural Fanatics Fest NYC at the Jacob Javits Center and participated in a Knicks panel titled “Bing Bong” along with players Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, actor Ben Stiller and award-winning director Spike Lee.
The hour-long event at the Javits Center Theater was filled with Knicks fans who showered Brunson and Hart with applause and praise.
Before he took the stage, they broke out into chants of “Ja-Len, Brun-Son” and then broke out into chants of “MVP” when the team’s new captain appeared.
Frazier paid Brunson a huge compliment during the discussion, one of the main points being the Knicks winning their first title since 1973.
“We know the expectations in this city are always overwhelming, so if he can rise to the challenge in his first two years and catapult the team forward, he definitely has a chance to be one of the best Knicks of all time, if not the best Knick of all time,” Frazier said. “I made a video – I couldn’t be there for his induction as captain – and I told him he reminds me a lot of Willis Reed. They’re both left-handed, they both have a tenacious work ethic, they always share and care and have a team-first concept. They always think about the team, not themselves.”
A major factor in the increased expectations for the Knicks is a strong offseason, highlighted by the return of OG Anunoby and the signing of Bridges via trade with the Nets.
Bridges, of course, played with Brunson, Hart and Donte DiVincenzo at Villanova and is another quality two-way player on a roster full of such players.
“He fits the puzzle perfectly,” Brunson said. “He can do anything you ask of him and more. To show the kind of person he is, the man got off the plane from London last night and was in the gym this morning.”
Lee, 67, brought the crowd to its feet when asked why the Knicks were important.
He talked about his life as a Knicks fan and his childhood during the team’s heyday, when they won two titles in four seasons.
“I think now is the time to shit on Boston,” he said, referring to the champion Celtics.
Lee later brought out one of the glass-encased MSG nets from Game 7 of the 1970 finals.
He asked Frazier to recite his stats from that memorable Game 7 – 36 points, 19 assists, seven rebounds and five steals – when the Knicks ousted Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and the Lakers.
“1972-73? Come on,” Lee said as the crowd roared in approval. “Let’s go, let’s get another ring. Orange and blue skies, let’s go.”
