Michael Frazier's Winning Ways Help Propel Blue Coats' Perfect Start
2019 NBA G League champion Michael Frazier's presence as a player familiar with winning and the resilience needed to succeed is proving to be key to Delaware's 6-0 start.
Building a successful team often requires a front office to target players with winning track records, those who have come out on top after dealing with a high level of adversity and continue to exhibit no quit.
Without a doubt, Michael Frazier is someone who checks all of those boxes. He played for the USA Men's World Cup Qualifying Team in 2019 before going on to win the 2019-20 NBA G League champion with the RGV Vipers. That same year, Frazier earned the league’s Most Improved Player award and was promoted to the Houston Rockets after averaging 16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals. It was quite an accomplishment for someone who hadn’t stepped foot on the minor league hardwood since the 2015-16 season, when he bounced around with three different teams and averaged 6.7 points.
Frazier has dealt with a multitude of unfortunate injuries, resulting in missed time, getting cut, and losing out on other opportunities. But somehow, some way, he seems to bounce back every time.
“I’m not someone who gets discouraged when adversity hits,” Frazier said.
The swingman didn’t appear in the Delaware Blue Coats’ first two games, but he’s gone on to start 3 out of the next 4 as part of Delaware’s impressive 6-0 start to the season.
“We have the talent to compete for a championship. I’m not sure every team can necessarily say that. People here feel a certain energy, but it’s not simply about talent. We have to play as a team,” he said. “You feed off of who is hot. Everyone is getting to know each other and you feel us growing closer. We have guys who have had success in the G League before and the new guys seem to have the right mindset as first year players.”
Frazier is averaging a modest 6 points on the year thus far, but as he alluded to, making contributions doesn’t always boil down to showing off your talent by scoring the most points. It’s more important to do what a team needs and contribute to wins in any way possible. The Blue Coats are led by Two-Way Players Paul Reed and Rayjon Tucker. Reed has proven to be a 20-10 double-double machine and Tucker keeps defenses on their toes with his high-flying athleticism. The list of hot commodities on this team goes on, but the value Frazier provides as a past champion is irreplaceable.
“Being a part of winning teams, I know what it feels like. I know what it looks like. I can help guys. I know what it takes to be successful. A big part of that is knowing that not everything goes the way you want it to all the time,” Frazier explained. “You have to stick together. The main goal is winning. Any time I’ve been a part of a winning group, we did the right things and controlled the things we could control.”
After spending last season as a Two-Way Player in his continued tenure with the Houston Rockets, it’s safe to say Frazier has a fan in new 76ers President Daryl Morey. That extension of faith has taken Frazier to the affiliated Delaware squad as he looks to find his way back to the NBA.
“I have a lot of people that believe in me. There are people and organizations that know what I can do,” he said. “I’ve worked hard to get to this point. There have been challenges, but overcoming them gives me confidence.”
At 26 years old, Frazier takes pride in treating people the right way and making strong impressions, something his family instilled in him.
He’s been faced with various ups and downs over the course of his career. As the season goes on, it’ll be interesting to see if Frazier will become a more prominent part of the Blue Coats’ offense. Regardless, his confidence likely isn’t going to waver and he’ll excel by making the right plays in the meantime. Being healthy is also a huge plus.
“I’ve always been the guy that wants to show people I’m willing to work. I want to lead by example,” he pointed out. “You have to show organizations that they don’t have to worry about you. You just want to win.”