ESPN’s documentary series “The Last Dance” has captivated sports fans in recent weeks, and has (unfortunately) reignited all the dormant Michael Jordan arguments on daytime sports television. With very few other sports to watch, analysts and fans really have had nothing better to do than argue about Jordan’s legacy over the last month – but former NBA sharpshooter Channing Frye may have dropped the hottest Jordan take of all.
It should be noted that Frye, who retired in 2019, is very much a LeBron James guy. He arrived in Cleveland in 2016, the year LeBron James carried the Cavs to the Finals and overturned a 3-1 deficit against the Warriors. In any and all GOAT debates, Frye is going to understandably back the guy who got him a ring. Frye is also from Phoenix, and says he wasn’t a Jordan fan growing up.
Even so, this take is hot. On his podcast “Talkin’ Blazers with Channing Frye,” Frye said that Jordan really only had one job for the Bulls which was to score. If Jordan were in his prime today, Frye believes that many players wouldn’t want to play with him.
“So, like, Jordan is amazing, and this is not an argument to say he’s lesser, it’s just my opinion. So I think Jordan’s job on that team was the score, right? He had one of the first teams with two what we call tweeners, Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen. Right. Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen, and we can throw in Toni Kukoc, we can throw in Ron [Harper], who does not get enough credit…
He only had really one job, and that was to just score. And he did that at an amazing, amazing rate. But I don’t feel like his way of winning then would translate to what it is now. Guys wouldn’t want to play with him.
I think you have to adjust and adapt, and to say, ‘Jordan would average 50.’ No he wouldn’t. No he wouldn’t. Everyone would double-team him.”
Frye spent 14 years in the NBA and played for six different franchises. He had hundreds of teammates. He knows the NBA better than most ever will, and it’s safe to say he has a better understanding of the average NBA psyche than most analysts and fans. He might be right that players might shy away from playing alongside MJ! After all, we’ve heard those same takes about players allegedly not wanting to play with LeBron. Still, unsurprisingly, fans were outraged by his take.
Channing frye and kendrick perkins taking over twitter hot takes #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/b4VNqGsTua
— MJ03 (@iamloyk) May 16, 2020
This is something you’ll never hear Jordan or anyone else say about Channing Frye: pic.twitter.com/eagrY5rqCk
— Shamar English (@english_shamar) May 16, 2020
MJ fans: "LeBron fans are so sensitive"
Channing Frye: "MJ really only had to do one thing"
MJ fans: pic.twitter.com/kNW67ooAwA
— Steve (@CLESteve4) May 16, 2020
Hahahahah weak ass Channing Frye would get mentally destroyed by MJ if he was on his team. Some guys can’t handle that kind of motivation. I would love playing with MJ. https://t.co/JEJV9J11b7
— Jason (@jayham63) May 16, 2020
when’s the last time someone said I want to play with Channing Frye? lol a joke
— Gloria Quintana (@GlorryyQ) May 16, 2020
Guess what NO ONE IS GOING TO SAY, I WANT TO PLAY WITH CHANNING FRYE.. NO ONE!!! https://t.co/jy8lF8Ce52
— Omara York (@YorkWSJ) May 16, 2020
One of the greatest defensive guards ever but continue channing frye pic.twitter.com/s6NTLXVTuu
— Qay Mills (@Deku52) May 16, 2020
Channing frye: he only had 1 job… nobody would want to play with him
All current NBA players: pic.twitter.com/IEYjAeSLTc
— stay suckafree (@kingric23) May 16, 2020
Maybe Channing Frye was right. MJ really did only have one job … and that job was to WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/fPcttO0ard
— MJs GOAT (@MjsGoat) May 16, 2020
So, Channing Frye forgot the part where Michael Jordan was a lockdown defender in addition to scoring and assist 🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/OJKmflPllN
— 🇯🇲 Mars⚾ (@_Marz101) May 16, 2020
Channing Frye and Kendrick Perkins talk like nobody is able to look up their stats on google lmao https://t.co/LBpYyQcjq9
— john (@iam_johnw) May 16, 2020
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