Channing Frye entered the arena on Monday wearing a suit, but rather than ditching the suit for a uniform, he kept his evening outfit on.
And instead of picking up a basketball, he put on an earpiece microphone to emcee the 2019 CATSYS at McKale Center, an award show for student-athletes at Arizona.
Frye just wrapped up his final NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and retired after a 13-year pro career. After being drafted eighth overall by the New York Knicks in 2005, the former Wildcat and Phoenix native spent his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.
Frye helped the Cavaliers overcome a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 NBA Finals to beat the Golden State Warriors and win a championship.
Now Frye is enjoying his own sleep and workout schedule along with being a personality and analyst on NBA TV and ESPN. He also hosts âThe Roadtrippinâ Podcastâ with ex-Wildcat Richard Jefferson, which features some of the biggest names in the NBA.
Frye spoke to the media before the CATSYS about retirement, his best memories at the UA and the opportunity to fly out to Tucson and eat authentic Mexican food:
Whatâs it like returning to your old stomping grounds?
A: âItâs been a wild couple of days here. I have a lot to catch up on. Everything has changed. Everything, just the dynamics, diversity, how many new buildings (there are), the advancements and everything. Itâs been amazing, I think the city of Tucson is flourishing.
âAnd itâs awesome. We were eating at (Frog and Firkin) and weâre just like, âMan could you imagine having a little train or a trolley that took you from this side to that side?â You had to find somebody who wasnât drinking to get you a ride to that side. âĻ Itâs been amazing being around and seeing the school grow and where it is now.â
What is your favorite memory of playing at McKale Center?
A: âAt the end of my freshman year, we won against UCLA, we were down 23 I think. We came back and rushed the court. I think that was the only time they rushed the court. âĻ That UCLA team was stacked.â
How is retirement from basketball?
A: âItâs great. Iâm chilling. My body is rested. No expectations on needing to be in shape all the time.
âHad me a nice couple of wings this afternoon. I thought about getting on a bike and I said, âWhat for?â
âFor me itâs just embracing it. Somebody says, âWhat are you gonna do?â I said anything. For the last 20-something years, somebody said when to wake up, how to eat, how to work out, no more seeing how to get better.
âNow itâs more like what do I need and what am I going to be happy doing next? So itâs been pretty awesome.â
How are you dealing with the freedom?
A: âThe freedom is scary at first until you schedule it out. For me Iâm just trying everything out. Iâve done NBA TV, Twitter stuff, Iâll go back and do stuff with ESPN. Iâll follow some coaches and see if I want to do that. For me to have the time and figure out what I love is great.â
What was your final NBA game like?
A: âIt was bittersweet. I love my teammates and Iâm very committed to the city of Cleveland and that organization. When you win a championship or youâre good, you have an attachment to the city because you couldnât win without their support and energy. Iâll do anything for Arizona, whatever they need.
âAnd the guys that were here that won and were good, have the same kind of attitude.â
Was that story true on The Roadtrippinâ Podcast about your Arizona teammate Gilbert Arenas storming out of a classroom at the UA and shutting off the lights?
A: âThat was super legit and absolutely horrible. The dude cussed a teacher out, turned off the lights.
âThere was a bunch of stories that didnât make it, but he was a handful. An amazing, crazy, talented, psycho human, but heâs a good dude.
You have that one brother or cousin thatâs crazy but you always want to see what theyâll do next? Thatâs Gilbert.â
