Channing Frye's practice jersey was drenched. Straight soaked.
It was his third day back at practice – which included a full-scrimmage at Cleveland High School in southeast Portland - since he underwent surgery to remove bone spurs in his left ankle in early September and Frye essentially ran full-court sprints for a good half-hour straight. For the Portland Trail Blazers forward, this was more than an open run.
It was his chance to say "I'm back."
"I was frustrated at first," Frye told HOOPSWORLD on Thursday night about his initial injury.
"Then I figured it was time for me to really just come to a calm state of mind and just enjoy some things I have going for me. Every day I had it written out on a piece of paper, "Make sure you are doing everything you can every single day."
On this day – or night as was the case – Frye looked like his usual self again: a fourth year 6'11 power forward who moonlights at center and is good anywhere around twelve to fifteen feet out with his jumper. Couple this with the three-point stroke he diligently worked on during the offseason and Frye becomes a complimentary piece for Nate McMillan behind Aldridge in the second unit.
Last season, Frye averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 48% from the field in 17.2 minutes per game.
"He knows who he is. He says he feels better than he has since his rookie year," General Manager Kevin Pritchard admitted.
"We need that outside shooting. He's important to us."
For Frye, the task now is to prepare himself – conditioning wise mostly - for the remaining three preseason games (Sacramento, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah) before Portland opens the season against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staple Center on October 28.
"I need to get my foot speed back, my timing and know the personnel. I can't have defensive lapses. For me that's a big part of my game that I want to improve on this year. It's going to be tough but I have to take on that challenge," Frye explained.
So what's it been like then for Frye to miss Portland's first four preseason games knowing he wants to be out there?
"It's been rough. Mentally, I've been trying to stay in the game and stay healthy. There are a lot of opportunities with this team and for me I just have to do what I do. You see the game way differently. You can dissect the game. I watched a lot of basketball when I was out."
Since he's had ample time to scout his own team the past few weeks, Frye wastes no time in dissecting the one aspect Portland needs to improve on the most before heading into the regular season.
"We just need to be hungrier."
Maybe Frye can belly-up to that buffet come Monday when the Blazers face the Sacramento Kings. Look for Frye to play around ten minutes against the Kings, just to help him get his game time conditioning back to where it needs to be – the same can be said for point guard Steve Blake who returned to practice this week after a sore hamstring kept him sidelined during the preseason.
Yet for head coach Nate McMillan, simply having Frye return to the court now is nothing short of miraculous, particularly with the timetable he was originally told.
"I'm just surprised he's out here playing," said McMillan with a smile.
"What I was told back in September is that he probably would be ready by maybe the first game, and here he is playing and has a chance to play in the preseason."
That's no sweat for Frye.
