Unfortunately for Knicks fans, there may be no more “swishing and dishing” or “posting and toasting” in the NBA Playoffs after tonight.
With the postseason being broadcast exclusively on national TV partners next season, MSG Network analyst Walt Frazier could be calling the final playoff game of his legendary career when the Knicks play the Pistons at Madison Square Garden in Game 5 of their first-round series on Tuesday. Frazier, known for his uniquely colorful descriptions of game action, has been working for the network alongside Knicks play-by-play man Mike Breen since 1999.
Frazier was a point guard for the Knicks from 1967-1977 and helped the team win its only two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. He has fond memories of starring in the playoffs at the mecca of basketball, and possibly working his final postseason game has him wishing and reminiscing.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
“It’s definitely a downer,” Frazier told Newsday’s Neil Best. “It’s going to be devastating. In the playoffs, my palms get sweaty. Memories come back. I get the chill bumps because I always say, in the regular season you make your name and in the playoffs you gain your fame.”
Here’s what to know about Walt Frazier calling his final playoff game.
NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket
Is Walt Frazier retiring?
Walt Frazier, 80, is not retiring, but he could be calling the final playoff game of his career on Tuesday. For decades, the NBA has allowed playoff teams to broadcast their first-round games on regional sports networks like MSG, but this is the final season where that will be allowed. With the NBA’s new media rights deal kicking in for the 2024-25, every first-round playoff game will be broadcast on national networks.
Even at his advanced age, Frazier still plans to call Knicks regular-season home games on MSG for the foreseeable future. He’s one of the most beloved Knicks players of all-time and loves interacting with its passionate fanbase.
“I don’t see retirement anytime soon,” Frazier told the New York Post in March. “Obviously, I’ve cut back on the road, but I still like to do the home games. Even after that, I’d like to be like [John] Starks, like [Patrick] Ewing, like L.J. [Larry Johnson], like Spree [Latrell Sprewell] — to be around, sort of an ambassador, talking to the fans, coming to the games. I still see that in my future.”
How old is Walt Frazier?
Walt Frazier was born on March 29, 1945, making him 80.
Frazier was drafted by the Knicks at No. 5 overall out of Southern Illinois in 1967 and had a 13-year playing career with New York and Cleveland. He began his television career shortly after retiring in 1980, serving as an NBA analyst for TBS. He moved over to MSG in 1987, broadcasting games on the radio first before returning to TV.
In 2022, Frazier was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as the recipient of the Curt Gowdy Award, an annual award given for outstanding achievements in basketball writing and broadcasting.
Walt Frazier NBA career
Frazier had a fantastic career as a player, helping the Knicks win their only two NBA titles in 1970 and 1973. He was named an All-Star seven times and was a first-team All-NBA Defensive player every year from 1969-1975. He played the final three seasons of his career with the Cavaliers.
Frazier was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1987.
