David Fizdale has created a special lane for Walt Clyde Frazier in the Knicks' new coaching circle -- and the franchise legend and broadcaster has already begun wheeling and dealing his wisdom to players.
The Knicks coach invited Frazier to the club's practice facility on Tuesday for a lunch with president Steve Mills and a chat with the guards, reports the New York Post.
"Clyde came to the gym the other day and spoke to our guards,'' Fizdale told the Post on Thursday. "Steve invited him for lunch and I previously invited him to spend time together and watch film. I wanted to introduce him to all of them -- the guards -- to let them know he will be talking to them very soon."
Fizdale's invite is the first extended to Frazier from a Knicks coach in quite some time. The Hall of Fame guard had told friends he was unsure why Phil Jackson had given him the cold shoulder during Jackson's failed stint as Knicks president, per the Post.
But to Fizdale, Frazier has much more to offer the team than loud suits and catchy phrases as MSG Network's color commentator.
"No one defended like Clyde,'' Fizdale said. "You're seeing the kind of DNA I'm trying to create with the guards. If they can embody what Clyde brought to the game, we got something pretty good. They may not know everything he's done, but know he's a legend."
By Frazier's own admission, the Knicks could use the help. He gave an honest assessment last month when he said the Knicks can look forward to "going nowhere" without Kristaps Porzingis. The 22-year-old continues to rehab his torn ACL without a timetable for his return.
But with Clyde's help, perhaps Fizdale can get his guards hounding and pounding.