The Puma Clyde became famous as the first signature shoe associated with basketball player Walt Frazier.
Puma introduced the Clyde in 1973 for Walt “Clyde” Frazier, the stylish New York Knicks guard. Frazier worked with Puma on the shoe’s design and requested a broader fit than the company’s existing Suede model. The sneaker was named after his nickname rather than simply carrying a numbered product name.
Its low-cut suede construction and wide range of colors matched Frazier’s distinctive fashion reputation. The shoe became important both on basketball courts and in streetwear, helping establish the signature-athlete sneaker as a cultural product.
The Clyde is often confused with the Puma Suede because both use suede uppers and similar profiles. The Suede is a separate model that predates the Clyde and was not named for Walt Frazier.