The NBA will be holding its State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Barclays Center in New York City this weekend.
The annual event, which will air on Valentine's Day at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, will feature the 2015 Sprite Slam Dunk. In a video made for the Gospel Herald, Darrel Johnson talked with NBA Legend Walt "Clyde" Frazier, who will be judging the event alongside Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Nate "Tiny" Archibald, Bernard King and Chris Mullin, about his latest restaurant venture named "Clyde Frazier's Wine and Dine."
"It's my first venture into the restaurant business," Frazier said. "It's a 10,000-square-foot venue located between 37th and 38th Streets because it's a whole block. It's sort of an upscale sports bar, but the food is very good."
Frazier added that his restaurant included 40 televisions, seats 200 people, and has a bar and a mini basketball hoop. He stated that he was "elated" by the support people have given to him in his latest venture.
"The place has been open for almost three years," Frazier said. "It's been a lot of fun."
Johnson asked him to elaborate on the design and signature style in his restaurant. Frazier wore a customized suit with a distinct pattern during this interview.
"Early on, we didn't know. We just had the space, but then we had an architectural firm," Frazier said. "When I used to meet with them, I'd have on one of my jazzy suits and my shoes."
Frazier then told Johnson that the architectural firm visited his house to capture his sense of style. The firm took pictures of his suits, ties, shoes, shirts and belts as inspiration for the restaurant's design.
"That became the evolution of the interior, the ambiance of Clyde with my pictures," Frazier said. "The ceiling is a replica of some of my suits. The walls are [kind of] like my mink coats. It's a different venue. No other venue is like it in New York, that's for sure."
Johnson asked the NBA legend how he was able to fit in a basketball court in his restaurant.
"My partner, Michael Weinstein, I told him we should put a hoop in there," Frazier said. "But I never thought it would be so elaborate, which is about 15 feet."
Johnson mentioned the fact that Frazier was present in the restaurant quite a lot.
"A lot of people are surprised, because a lot of sports guys put their name on the bar and they never show up," Frazier said. "I could never cheat the fans, especially the kids that are hoping to see Clyde when they come there."
Frazier added that he liked mingling with the people who visited his restaurant. He doesn't mind signing autographs or taking pictures with the average person either.
"It's something you can't do for money," Frazier quipped. "You have to like people, and that's what I do. Usually if the Knicks are in town, I'm usually there."
Johnson closed out the interview by asking him about the NBA All-Star Weekend, which is being held in New York City this weekend. It has been 17 years since the last time the NBA brought that event to the Big Apple.
"The memories abound," Frazier said. "Ironically, on my rookie year, the All-Star game was at the old [Madison Square] Garden in 1967. Then they had another one, and now this one. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to play in the All-Star game when it was in New York."
Frazier noted that he made NBA All-Star status seven times. While his friends were happy that he became one, they wanted to know when he'd become an MVP.
"Finally, in 1975, in Phoenix, Ariz., I won MVP in the All-Star game, so that was a big thrill," Frazier said.
Johnson ended the interview, thanking Frazier for his time and shaking the NBA legend's hand.
Click below to watch the interview:
