As the New York Knicks prepare to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers, a candid interview with Knicks legend Walt Frazier has rekindled memories of his brief, unexpected tenure in Cleveland. Reflecting on the trade that sent him from the Knicks to the Cavaliers in the late 1970s, Walt Frazier calls his move to Cleveland an experience that felt like an “exile.” During a recent appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Run it Back,” Frazier shared his unfiltered take on the shift from New York to Cleveland, admitting that he initially equated the trade to being “shipped to Siberia.”
Frazier, whose ten-season career with the Knicks brought the franchise two NBA titles (1970 and 1973), explained his shock and disappointment at being dealt to the Cavaliers in 1977. Walt Frazier calls this move one of the most jarring moments of his career, recalling the stark differences between the lively culture of New York and the quieter environment in Cleveland. “When I got traded, I was devastated and depressed,” Frazier said on the show. “Now in retrospect, when I look back on it, of all the places to get traded, I got traded to Cleveland. I equated that to being shipped to Siberia. ‘Oh, s**t, not Cleveland.’”
A Sudden Shift for a Knicks Icon
As one of New York’s most celebrated players, Frazier was at the center of the Knicks’ rise during the 1970s. However, when his production began to decline, Walt Frazier calls the organization’s decision to trade him to Cleveland a “wake-up call.” He was swapped as part of a compensation package for Jim Cleamons, a younger point guard seen as his replacement. While it may have been a strategic move for the Knicks, it marked a painful transition for Frazier, who had grown accustomed to New York’s nonstop energy.
For Frazier, the adjustment wasn’t just about basketball. “So, I’m in Cleveland, and it’s in training, and they were talking about the one nightclub they go to,” he recalled, humor tinged with exasperation. “I went to that nightclub, and I go, ‘Oh my goodness, it’s gonna be a long winter. This is the best nightclub they’ve got?’” His comments highlight how Walt Frazier calls Cleveland’s nightlife a far cry from the vibrant scene he had enjoyed in New York.
Joining the conversation, former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams added his own humor, remarking that Cleveland’s entertainment landscape remains largely unchanged. “They’ve still got that one nightclub,” he joked. “It’s still the same one; there’s just one.” Fans had mixed reactions to Walt Frazier’s comments, with some finding them amusing, while others were upset at the less-than-flattering comparison of their city.
The ‘Exile’ That Led to Retirement
For Frazier, the Cleveland chapter was brief. Walt Frazier calls it a challenging experience that ultimately prepared him for retirement. Reflecting on those days, he admitted that the cultural and professional change accelerated his post-career planning. “Cleveland prepared me for retirement,” he said. “I played 10 years with the Knicks. I knew I was only going to play two more seasons, so I read a lot of self-help books.”
Unfortunately, Frazier’s time in Cleveland was marred by injuries, leading to an early retirement during the 1979-80 season. Walt Frazier calls those days a period of reflection that ultimately shaped his future. He played only 66 games with the Cavaliers, a far cry from the impact he had in New York.
Frazier Finds His Way Back to New York
While Frazier’s Cleveland Cavaliers tenure may have been short-lived, his impact on New York has endured. Following his retirement, Walt Frazier calls his eventual return to the Knicks—this time as a broadcaster—a fitting conclusion to his storied NBA career. Since 1998, he has served as a color commentator for the Knicks on MSG Network, winning over new generations of fans with his signature style and memorable catchphrases.
As the Knicks prepare to face the Cavaliers, Walt Frazier’s comments add a new layer to the matchup, stirring up nostalgia for fans and sparking a larger conversation about the challenges stars face when moving from major to smaller markets. His experience speaks to the identity struggles that many NBA icons face when leaving the teams and cities where they built their careers.
While Walt Frazier calls his time in Cleveland an exile, he acknowledges that the move ultimately prepared him for life after basketball, shaping him into the broadcasting legend he is today.
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