Channing Frye Placed on Indefinite Leave Following Father's Death

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward/center Channing Frye will be away from the team indefinitely after his father, Thomas Frye, died on Thanksgiving. 

Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com passed along the news and noted the 33-year-old veteran previously lost his mother, Karen Mulzac-Frye, to cancer on Oct. 27.

Frye posted comments about the loss on his Instagram page Thursday: "On a day for thanks. Be thankful for the person next to you. My father passed away today. Y'all better love on your family."

The Cavaliers also released a statement on their official website ahead of Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks: "The entire Cavs organization offers their condolences and support to Channing and his family during this very difficult time."

Thomas Frye was a longtime New York Knicks fan, which made his son's selection by the organization with the eighth overall pick in 2005 even more special. He explained his feelings to the New York Times on the day his son was introduced as a member of the Knicks.

"Grinning from ear to ear," the elder Frye said. "It's just a dream come true."

Frye was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2006 and has since developed into a valuable role player across stints with five different teams. He's found a niche coming off the bench for the Cavs since a February trade, which also resulted in him winning a championship ring last season.

Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal noted the New York native didn't want to discuss the situation upon returning to the team after losing his mother beyond saying he was happy to get back with his teammates. Head coach Tyronn Lue believed the team environment would be comforting:

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I think Channing needed that. Anytime you go through something as serious as he did, losing your mom, to be back around your teammates and having the camaraderie and the brothership, I think it was good for him to get back and laugh and have fun and kind of enjoy it. He's going through a tough time right now.

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There's no timetable for Frye's return to the team. After Friday's game with the Mavs, the Cavaliers play five of their next six games on the road, including a Dec. 7 visit to Madison Square Garden to take on the Knicks.