Jeff Green's game-winning shot in Cleveland with his heart surgeon in attendance was one of the most emotional and memorable moments of the 2012-13 season. It was an extremely personal and gratifying statement from someone who more than a year ago underwent open heart surgery and did not know if he could play again.
He proved you can come back from such an injury.
Channing Frye of the Suns missed all of the 2013 season after an irregular heartbeat, and it was unclear if he would ever play again. Unlike Green, Frye has been in the league a while and was a role player, not a potential star. While his strong shooting ability would likely be a skill that kept him in the NBA much longer than one would think.
Frye though got his clearance to play, he tells Bright Side of the Suns. Now it is whether the Suns will play him.
When it comes down to it, my health is #1," Frye says now. "I said [to the doctors last month] I'm just here to get a prognosis from you on my health, and they gave me the okay.
"Right now I'm excited, but still patient in giving the Suns the information and letting their people go through it. As far as I'm concerned, I'm 100% healthy for any professional athlete. Right now I think it's just, let [the Suns] assess the information and go from there.
This is simply great news for Frye. It is good to hear that he is healthy and getting ready to come back.
Frye averaged 10.5 points per game in 2012 and shot 34.6 percent from beyond the arc. He still has two years on his contract (a player option on the last year) where he will make $13.2 million if he picks up that last year on his player option. It is hard to imagine he will not do so.
Frye is a strong 3-point shooter and if he is able to come back to the NBA, will make a good addition to this young Suns team.
It will make a good story watching him come back.
