Tim Frazier is a Texas native, but in recent years his basketball career has taken him literally from coast to coast, including starring in college at Penn State, prior to a stint with the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA. In between, he also appeared in regular season games with the Philadelphia 76ers. Frazier, who joined New Orleans for the final 16 games of the 2015-16 season, sat down with Pelicans.com to discuss some of his interests away from basketball:
Best moments as an athlete: “In high school, we went to the state championship, the first private school out of Houston to do that. In college, I was first-team All-Big Ten, and that was kind of out of the blue, something no one expected. But the biggest moment is probably just being able to play the game on all these different levels, high school, college and pro. You can’t take any of that for granted. I know a lot of my friends who I grew up with – who were even better players than me – never got the opportunity. A lot of it was injuries or other significant things happening (that prevented it). So for me, being able to just play on all these different levels and teams is special.”
How he chose his current uniform number of 2: “I didn’t choose it! [laughs] It was actually Big Shot (Pelicans equipment manager David Jovanovic) who chose it for me. Usually my number in high school and college had always been No. 23, because my older sister wore 23 during her career. But every team in the NBA, I’ve had a different number. I was No. 55 in Boston, 10 in Portland, 2 here. I had 10 in the D-League. Also, 23 was taken here.” [smiles]
One thing fans might be surprised to know about him: “I can dance. I can sing a little bit in the shower. [smiles] Also, I’m big into art. I used to draw a lot, though I don’t have as much time as I once did. In high school and early college, I drew some pieces of art.”
Favorite thing about New Orleans: “The food. I’ve been around, all over the U.S. for the most part, but here is closer to what I’m used to in the South, with me being from Houston.”
Pregame ritual: “I pray. Also, when my sister came to my games, we always used to point to each other before the game started.”
First job: “I was a waiter at a Penn State restaurant downtown. I did that for three years in college.”
Favorite athlete as a kid: “My sister Krystal, I thought she was the best athlete ever. Even though we are only five years apart, I thought she was the best thing walking basketball-wise. Until I realized when I got older, that I was better than her. [smiles] Also, Allen Iverson – he gave me the whole idea that a little man can still play in the league, take hits and do things that the bigger guys can do.”
What he’d be doing if he weren’t an NBA player: “I think I’d be working somewhere on Wall Street. I was good with math. I had a roommate in college who used to work there.”
Closest friends currently playing on other NBA teams or in other pro sports: “Damian Lillard is my closest friend, period, basketball or not. In football, my friend Allen Robinson plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars; he went to Penn State.”
Favorite type of music: “I’m a hip-hop guy. On one of my old teams, they used to tell me I needed to turn it down sometimes, because for any workout we had, I’d play Future or Lil Wayne non-stop.”
Favorite TV show: “I’ve seen all of the Simpsons and Family Guy shows. I’m also watching SportsCenter all day.”
Favorite movies of all time: “All of the Friday movies.”
Favorite websites: “Every now and then, I go to the Wall Street Journal’s site to read different news, but that’s pretty much it.”