The Puma Clyde sneaker was first introduced in 1973. Puma created the shoe for New York Knicks guard Walt “Clyde” Frazier, whose nickname and unmistakable style made him an ideal partner for a signature basketball model.
The design adapted Puma’s earlier Basket and Suede-related footwear into a narrower, lower-profile shoe with a suede upper. Frazier preferred a less clunky feel and wanted a new colorway for each game, so the model’s materials and simple shape supported both on-court use and extensive color variation.
The 1973 launch also coincided with Frazier’s peak visibility: he had helped the Knicks win NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. The Clyde is sometimes confused with the Puma Suede because the shoes share construction details and a strong lifestyle identity, but the Clyde was the Frazier-named basketball release. Puma continues to produce modern Clyde versions alongside the original-inspired model.