Walt Frazier on Knicks: ‘I see a lot of similarities with (our) championship teams’

The Knicks enter this season as a serious title contender.

Don’t just take my word for it. Walt “Clyde” Frazier — a Knicks icon — sees it too. The Hall of Fame player and coach was one of the best players on the Knicks’ two championship teams in the 1970s and has long been the alliterative color commentator on Knicks broadcasts. He was on a panel about the Knicks with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and others at Fanatics Fest NYC and had this to say via Zach Braziller of the New York Post.

“I see the vibes,” Frazier said Friday. “I see a lot of similarities to (our) championship teams, starting with the coach. (Tom Thibodeau) is a lot like Red Holzman. He holds the guys accountable, and they’re defensively oriented, and the players kind of like each other.

“I think this is going to be our year. Health obviously plays a big part in that. But if the Knicks can stay healthy, I think we can get back to our old greatness.”

Things are going to be tight at the top of the East this coming season. Boston remains the team to beat, they were clearly the best team in the league last season, winning the title and bringing back their top seven. Philadelphia may take a minute to match up, but with Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey they are a threat to win it all (if Embiid and George are healthy for the playoffs). The Knicks, with Mikal Bridges on the roster, are in that mix of top three, with Milwaukee and Orlando was right behind them.

This year, Knicks fans aren’t under the illusion that their team can compete with anyone — they’re in contention for the title.
a marathon of a season, and any team that wins a title needs some luck and a few setbacks to get their way, but Frazier has hit the nail on the head this time.

This could be the year the Knicks become that successful again.