Frye’s The Guy for Knicks
Then, as The Chairman of the Board croons, you can make it anywhere -- and making it, or not making it, in the difficult NBA universe will surely not depend on the composed Frye’s attitude. “I can only guarantee one thing,” he says. “I intend to give this team my heart and soul every day and every night. Every practice and every minute of every game. If Isiah wants to me to stay in the gym, I’ll set up a cot -- and I’m dead serious about that. I’ll shoot free throws at 2 a. m., or whatever. This is New York. This is the Mecca. This is an opportunity I intend to take full advantage of every day, both on and off the court. To ruin that and take it for granted, would be a real slap in the face.”
Even the unique pressure The Big Apple represents fails to faze the mature forward-center. “That’s where four years of college helps me,” he says. “I like winning -- and this city needs to start winning. To help the Knicks accomplish that, I’m ready for anything. Anyway, we have the tools and the veterans to be a winning team this season. And any pressure the Knicks will put on me will be nothing compared to what I put on myself.”
“I feel like I can definitely contribute,” says Frye, and there can be scant doubt about that. The Knicks need a big man to man the middle in a big way, and the agile Arizona inside activist is a legitimate 6-11, 250-pounder with long arms, outstanding ability, and a unique variety to his game on both ends of the floor. Commented Thomas, "We are excited to be able to add Channing Frye to the Knicks. We knew that we need to add size to our team once the summer started - that is exactly what we did. Everything this team needs, he brings to the table. It is a great first step for what we think will be a productive summer and good night for us."
Even more promising, Frye's recent improvement -- he had himself just a stunning NCAA tournament run -- has been nothing short of shocking. “I’ve been working a lot, both on my game and on my body,” he says. “In the tournament, we played a slightly different brand of ball and that allowed me to bang. I know that my rep may be otherwise, but I actually like to play physical. It gets my blood going.”
But can Frye, forever a finesse player with power rather than the other way around, fill the life-size big man role this Knicks team so craves? “Definitely,” he smiles. “You haven’t seen a thing yet. Even since the end of the season, I’ve gotten so much more powerful, so much better. You must understand, at Arizona we played a system -- a lot of screen-and-rolls -- which forced me to do all kinds of different things. The NBA is another story; it will put the emphasis on a power game and I welcome that. I got the moves -- ever since I started to play, I loved playing with my back to the basket. I think I will surprise a lot of people. I’m going to give it my all and help this team win.”
As Frye walked to his television interviews, he slapped hand after hand reaching out him from the Madison Square Garden darkness. “I’m going to give the fans a little love,” he smiled. “This feels great.” Not half as great though as being the starting center on a winning NBA team in the world’s greatest metropolis. “Coming off the bench, or whether I’m starting, that’ll be up to what the coaches see from me,” said Frye. “But, sure, that’s the goal, starting. Either way, I’ll give it my all. I’m here to play, not to play around.”
