Cavaliers pay champ Channing Frye special tribute during final game in Cleveland before retirement

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - Channing Frye stepped onto the Quicken Loans Arena hardwood for the last time as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Frye announced that he intends on retiring at the end of the 2018-19 season, and the Cavaliers played their final home game in Cleveland on Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs.

The 35-year-old averaged only eight minutes per game this season, but he played a much bigger role off the court. No. 9 served as mentor and a leader to the Cavs’ youth, and was the Cavaliers biggest cheerleader from the bench.

The Cavaliers made sure to give him plenty of attention during the last home game. Before the game, players wore a custom “Channing” shootaround jersey.

He was also honored with a sketch featuring two of his best friends from his days playing in Cleveland, former teammate Richard Jefferson and a Banana Republic version of Kevin Love. All three players were pivotal during the Cavaliers 2016 championship run.

Frye was named a starter for Sunday’s game in place of Kevin Love. He even scored the first basket of the game.

When Love was sent in as a substitute, he rocked Frye’s college-era jersey from the University of Arizona before handing it back to his teammates.

When Cavaliers coach Larry Drew pulled Frye from the game for the final time in the fourth quarter, he left to a standing ovation from the Cleveland fans and was met by a mob from the players at the bench.

“I wouldn’t want to retire anywhere else,” Frye said in a video to fans and teammates. “My heart is here in Cleveland, my championship here is Cleveland, so I just want to say thank you.”

Frye played for six teams in his 13-year career. More than three of those years were spent with the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers play their final game on Tuesday in Charlotte.

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