On a recent episode of the Road Trippin’ podcast, former NBA forward Channing Frye shared a blunt assessment of what he believes derails many players in Los Angeles.
Reflecting on his own brief stint with the Lakers, Frye said, via HoopsHype, “Players fall in love with being famous more than winning in L.A. Okay? So, if you don’t have that motor, that sickness to be great in a place like L.A., you’re going to start thinking, ‘Well, it wasn’t my fault’ or ‘It was someone else.’”
Frye, who played 12 seasons in the league and won a championship with Cleveland in 2016, stressed how the Hollywood lifestyle can distract from the work required to win. “You stop grinding,” he explained. “Then you’re playing with Luka, and you’re playing with Bron, and now you’re even more famous—for doing nothing. You could literally do nothing and still be famous.”
His comments come at a time when the Lakers are in the midst of a pivotal offseason, attempting to build around LeBron James and recent addition Luka Doncic while navigating trade rumors and roster questions.
Frye’s words resonate with a larger narrative about Los Angeles as a unique NBA market, where media attention and celebrity culture often overshadow on-court performance.
