Walt "Clyde" Frazier is one of the best to ever play the game of basketball. The New York Knicks great won two titles during his storied career—the same number Kevin Durant has now won. But Frazier says Durant's rings will always be followed by an "asterisk."
During an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio Tuesday, Frazier said he remains dubious of Durant's decision to join the Golden State Warriors, who "didn't need him," in the summer of 2016.
"Durant, as great a player he is, I would still hold back [giving him credit] because he joined a team that really didn't need him," Frazier said. "He's right there with LeBron, probably would've surpassed LeBron as the best player in the game soon, but for him doing that I still don’t give him the full credit that he probably would've deserved if he stayed in OKC and won a title with that team."
There's no question it would've been a more impressive accomplishment if Durant had won a ring in OKC—NBA fans have heard that argument reiterated ad nauseam.
"He's going to be down the list for me because of that," Frazier added. "There will be an asterisk next to his name. It's not something I would've done, I would've never joined [Jerry] West, [Bill] Russell or [Wilt] Chamberlain. I wanted to kick their butts."
KD wasn't the only big name Frazier mentioned in his interview. He also said he doesn't foresee the Knicks retiring Carmelo Anthony's jersey.
"Probably not because he didn't win a title," Frazier said. "I'm surprised they didn't put Allan Houston up there. I'm surprised Bernard King, who is in the Hall of Fame, they haven't put Bernard up there. So those two guys I think are deserving. Perhaps maybe John Starks. Even the Oak Man, Charles Oakley, but that probably won't happen with all the stuff he's done at the Garden. So he's not held in high esteem right now, but I don't see them putting Melo in there because of that."
