GQ: I remember playing basketball in school and it was exciting when the new season’s uniform came out.
Walt Frazier: Oh, I remember in high school going home and trying the suit on. And in football we had two pair of socks. You ever heard of Lenny Moore? Played for the Baltimore Colts. He used to wear spats. So he was the guy that we always tried to dress like him. He dressed so clean with the socks and the laces.
GQ: Your rookie season was in 1967. What was it like being in New York?
Walt Frazier: I didn’t like New York. The hustle, the bustle. I didn’t know where to go. And then it bothered me at night. I’d come home and park my car and the guy spun the wheels as he’s taking it to park. Then I’m walking by people on the street—you don’t know if they’re dead or alive, man! And nobody seems to care. Man, this city, nobody cares, they tear up your car, they don’t care about anything around here. Nobody’s friendly. It was overwhelming. It took me a couple years.
GQ: Who calmed you down?
Walt Frazier: I started to meet guys who took me to nice places. I started learning my way around. My idol was Dick Barnett who was a very sharp dresser. He was a very flashy dresser, man. He had monogrammed cuffs on his shirts. Custom made suits. I found out where they got their shirts their suits their shoes.