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Nice Kicks: Even though you tried to emulate Mr. Barnett, what set your style apart from him and others during your time in the NBA?
Frazier: When I came to the Knicks fresh out of college, I was wearing penny loafers and buttoned down collar shirts, but my teammates were wearing custom shoes, custom suits and custom-made shirts with monograms on them. So, I used to go to their tailors and their shirt makers to get the same kind of things done. We were always trying to out dress one another on our team. We had competitions off the court as well, but the hats are what set me apart. One day I was in Baltimore, Maryland, and I saw a brown velour Bossalini hat that really caught my eye. It was a wide-brim hat, but at the time most people were wearing narrow-brim hats. So, my teammates and guys from the opposing team laughed at me the first time I wore it, but I really liked it. That really started my hat craze. Two weeks later, the movie Bonnie & Clyde came out, and that’s where my nickname originated. I, like Clyde in the movie, was wearing the wide-brim hats with custom suits. I used to steal the ball on the court a lot, so people compared my defense to Bonnie and Clyde being bank robbers.
Nice Kicks: I’ve seen fashion choices lately, and it seems they have gotten even more bizarre. How would you incorporate the PUMA Clyde into your current style?
Frazier: Well, have you seen my cow suit?
Nice Kicks: Yes, I’m actually looking at an image of it right now.
Frazier: [Laughs] Well, yeah. I’d probably be wearing some cow-print PUMA Clydes today. It’ll be something really different. That would be my pizzazz, you know, with the different colors and animal print. I always say the Knicks should let me design their uniforms. It’s New York, man. We should have 4-5 provocative, loud uniforms. That’s what New York is all about. When I watched the All-Star game this year, I paid close attention to the uniforms and was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ It’s the All-Star game, man. They should’ve had something very different. It was too conservative in my opinion.
Nice Kicks: How would you compare and contrast your style with Craig Sager?
Frazier: Craig is like me. He has a very provocative style with different colors, but my style is better because I have a better-looking body [laughs]. I’m taller and slimmer, so I have an edge there, but I have to give him kudos though. He wears some nice stuff. Maybe next year, since the All-Star game is going to be in New York, I might have a dress-off challenge with Craig. I think that would be interesting and fun. Maybe we can do something for charity to raise some money.
Nice Kicks: Any last words about the PUMA family?
Frazier: The brand is just ingenious, and that’s why they’ve survived for 40 years. They don’t just rest on their laurels, and they’re always trying to do something different. Even when they brought me back in the picture, they widened the toe and the heel to make the Clyde a tad bit more up-to-date. It now has an overall fresher look and different feel. I’m very proud of PUMA’s creativity. I just can’t believe we’re here talking about the Clyde some 40 years later.
