Channing Frye on LeBron James' Laker teammates: 'You can’t ask for Michelin-star meals with Costco ingredients at times'

Talking about Richard, if you had to replace him for another player as co-host in the podcast who would that be? Channing Frye: Oh, that’s a great question. You know what? I would probably go with either Jamal Crawford, who’s great to work with him, or I go with Candace Parker. So two people that I get the opportunity to talk to, don’t mind arguing with me and calling me out when I’m lying. They’re extremely informed, they have a different view of basketball from what I do, and I love that they see it differently. Then we could all agree that good basketball is good basketball, but what that looks like may be different to different people. -via HoopsHype / January 13, 2024

Who’s the GOAT NBA player turned podcaster? Channing Frye: I think for basketball, I think is JJ Redick. No. 1, he’s dedicated to getting the storytelling of the guys. And then No. 2, he’s extremely analytical, which is rare, but he’s extremely intelligent and informed. And then No. 3, he’s not afraid to stand on a hill on certain opinions. So yeah, JJ right now… His podcast’s the best. -via HoopsHype / January 13, 2024

Channing Frye: They need some shooters, good Lord! They can’t kick that thing in the ocean, that’s disgusting. I think they won the In-Season Tournament because of the pace of play and defensively they could lock in. So do I think the Lakers will be dangerous in the playoffs? Yeah, but how much are they going to have in the tank trying to stay alive is one thing, and then No. 2, I think Anthony Davis is having an absolutely ridiculously amazing year, I would say even better than LeBron, and it’s getting wasted. I think they’re still trying to figure out who they are. I think they need more movement, more cutters, more shooters. I just think you can’t play this game without spacing. So no spacing means you take tough shots and for them, they need some spacing. You can be good defensively, but ain’t nobody that good in this day and age to get over that bad shooting. -via HoopsHype / January 13, 2024

Ham understands the pressure that exists when coaching the Lakers and LeBron James. When a report from The Athletic surfaced suggesting there was a disconnect between Ham and some of the players, it naturally fueled speculation that he could be on the hot seat a year and a half into his four-year contract. “I had like 50 texts when I checked my phone that day. I’m not on social media, so I don’t know what people are saying. But I’m getting text messages saying, ‘Hang in there. Are you OK? It’s going to be OK. I’m here for you.’ I thought somebody died. That was my initial reaction. Then someone sent me story with some unnamed sources and I was like, ‘This s–t?’ Everything is going to be alright. We’ve got a good team. We just got more work to do.” -via Bleacher Report / January 12, 2024

James also noted how potent an offense like the Suns’ can be with “three three-level scorers,” an interesting comment considering the Lakers’ noted interest in trade targets like Bulls guard Zach LaVine, Bulls wing DeMar DeRozan and Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. “It’s obvious,” James said. “… It creates so many disadvantages for your defense and always having you on your toes. So, they’re going to be a really good team once they continue to mesh. But those three guys are obviously exceptional.” -via The Athletic / January 12, 2024

Darvin Ham has yet to win an NBA championship as a head coach, and Shaquille O’Neal said the way LeBron James and Anthony Davis deal with that hole in his resume is part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent struggles. “What I know for a fact, in the locker room, resume is important,” O’Neal said. “You mean to tell me LeBron’s gonna listen to Darvin Ham in the thick of things? I know the answer to that. I’ll let you figure it out. You think A.D. is gonna listen to Darvin Ham? -via Lakers Daily / January 12, 2024