Arizona Basketball alum Channing Frye retiring with tributes from Love and Kerr

Channing Frye announced his retirement from the NBA on March 1st and he is being commemorated by his fellow teammates from college and the pros.

Channing Frye is the 36th player in NBA history to record 4,000 rebounds and 1,000 three-pointers. The 7-foot 255-pound forward has played in the NBA for 15 seasons for six different teams including the Cavs, Trailblazers, Suns, Lakers, and Magic. A once high school star from Phoenix, the former Wildcat played all four years at Arizona for Head Coach Lute Olson averaging 13.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

In pure Channing fashion, he quipped when announcing his retirement, “I’m rich, I’m a champion, I’m 35 and retiring and I’m living a great life. So, if you think I suck, I’ll see you at LA Fitness in a year, motherf–ker.”

It’s no mystery that Cleveland Cavaliers forward Channing Frye’s bestie is fellow Arizona Basketball Alum and former Cavs teammate/ NBA Champion, Richard Jefferson. The two, whether together or apart on the internet, bring smiles to a lot of basketball fans. Like brothers, they also share a huge affinity with former UCLA Bruin and Cavs teammate Kevin Love. To commemorate Frye’s retirement, Love wore Frye’s No. 45 Arizona Wildcats college jersey to pay homage to the retiring NBA player.

After announcing his retirement on Twitter, Jefferson offered this reply, the two of them started the Road Trippin’ podcast together:

"They say athletes die twice. So apparently since another person is passing away in my life I should join another social media (too soon?) I love you brother so proud of you and what WE’VE accomplished. It’s not that bad on this side.. @RoadTrippinPod is about to be fulltime."

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The Cavs celebrated Channing with a special T-Shirt that had a caricature of the Wildcat with the words, “HOLLA AT YA BOI.” When asked on Twitter what the most hostile environment and team to play against was in his career, he Tweeted, “Utah,” which is not surprising. Recently, Russell Westbrook had words with a fan in Utah who made racial comments towards the Thunder star guard. The Jazz owner denounced the fans actions and banned him for life.

Channing reflected on his career with the Cavs, he spoke about having the best and worst times in Cleveland, but he will remember it forever. He felt the fans let him be himself, “quirky.” Frye felt the fans treated him above and beyond, even though he wasn’t a huge scorer and understood his role.

He got emotional during this interview and blamed his cracking voice on “Beer in my throat.” In the interview he describes what he is going to miss most; the relationships he has made. Through it all, Frye is just glad he is ending his NBA Career in Cleveland.

Teammate Tristan Thompson attributed the Cavs NBA Championship to Frye who was the “glue guy” on the team.

Through a remarkable career, Frye was always the jokster. He is hilarious and helps his teammates stay loose and positive. He and Richard Jefferson were key to keeping the Championship Cavs’ team cohesive.

Channing gave this advice and sentiment to his teammates and his fans telling them that Cleveland was the community that he won the Championship for and embraced him.

Frye played his last ever NBA road game Friday night in Northern California against his former Suns GM and Arizona Wildcat Steve Kerr’s, Golden State Warriors. Kerr prepared a light-hearted tribute to Frye before the game. Here is what Frye had to say about Kerr who both know that Frye’s only NBA Championship came at the demise of the Golden State Warriors:

"Steve Kerr was instrumental in giving me a chance to become the player I was meant to be. He will always be someone I respect and look up to. If I’m not going to win then I’d hope I’d lose to another Wildcat! Thanks for the video Warriors if a funny feeling knowing I’ll probably be the only Cavs player ever to have a “tribute” video in Oracle!"

Former ZZ Contributor and huge Arizona fan Brad Malone was able to catch up with Frye for his podcast. Here is the episode:

Listen to “Ep.42 : Interview with Channing Frye” on Spreaker.

Channing Frye will Host the Catsy’s this coming April 22, 2019, Arizona Athletics version of the Emmy Awards. Many fans have asked Fry and Jefferson on Twitter to announce an Arizona Basketball game next season for ESPN or the Pac-12 Channel, hopefully, someone can make that happen, will be funnier than Bill Walton, trust us!