Cavs dedicate night to Channing Frye as his retirement approaches

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers have just one game remaining this season but on Sunday the team celebrated the end of something much bigger.

Beloved Cavalier Channing Frye announced in March that this would be his final season in the league. Frye, 35, was traded to the Cavaliers in 2016 and was a part of the team’s NBA Championship run and consecutive trips to the NBA Finals.

To pay tribute, the Cavs spent their game against the San Antonio Spurs celebrating Frye and his time with the team.

The Cavs kicked off the celebrations by making their Twitter profile picture a photo of Frye.

Frye’s former teammate and close friend Richard Jefferson made a special appearance and made sure to send Frye a heartfelt message.

During the game. the team presented Frye with custom artwork, a framed piece featuring Frye and Jefferson, as well as Kevin Love who can be seen dropping dimes and holding a carton of chocolate milk. Cavs General Manager Koby Altman joked that Love and Jefferson are pictured on Frye’s back because he “carried them to a championship.”

Frye was put in the Cavs starting lineup and fans erupted in applause for his final introduction. Just moments later, Frye scored the first points of the game, nailing a 3-pointer seconds into the game.

In his start, Frye became the 36th player in NBA history to record 4,000 rebounds and 1,000 threes.

When Love checked into the game, he paid special tribute to Frye by wearing his Arizona Wildcats jersey.

With under two minutes left in the game, Frye checked out of the game and as he headed to the bench, his teammates tackled him to the ground in celebration.

The Cavs fell to the Spurs 112-90, but the loss didn't take away from the night dedicated to Frye.

The Cavs will play their final game of the season on Tuesday at 7 p.m. as they take on the Charlotte Hornets.