Education
Fryer attended Portuguese Angeles High School in Portuguese Angeles, Washington. Following high school, he attended and graduated from Brigham Young University (Brigham Young University) in 1972.
Fryer attended Portuguese Angeles High School in Portuguese Angeles, Washington. Following high school, he attended and graduated from Brigham Young University (Brigham Young University) in 1972.
He was a player in the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association (American Bar Association) from 1973 to 1975 before serving as a referee from 1978 to 2007. In high school, he participated in football and basketball and was named an "All-American" in both sports during his junior and senior season. At Brigham Young University, he played basketball and was selected to the All-Western Athletic Conference team from 1970 to 1972.
Fryer was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the seventh round of the 1972 National Basketball Association Draft.
He never played for the Suns, however, making his National Basketball Association debut with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1973. He played 80 games for the Blazers during the 1973-1974 season, and he was named to the All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 7.0 points and 3.5 assists per game.
The following season, he split time between the New Orleans Jazz of the National Basketball Association and the American Bar Association"s Spirits of Saint Louis, scoring 157 combined National Basketball Association/American Bar Association points before retiring in 1975. Over his playing career, he averaged 6.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.8 rebounds with the Trail Blazers and Jazz in the National Basketball Association and 7.8 points, 2.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds in nine games for the Saint Louis Spirits in the American Bar Association.
After retiring as a player, Fryer embarked upon a lengthy career as an National Basketball Association referee, beginning in 1978.
As of the beginning of the 2006-2007 National Basketball Association season, he officiated 1,649 regular season, 145 playoff, and 11 National Basketball Association Finals games as well as the 1998 All-Star Game.
He was also one of three former National Basketball Association players (Leon Wood and Haywoode Workman) who officiated in the league. During a 2002 playoff game between the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic, Fryer and his officiating crew disallowed a field goal made by the Hornets Baron Davis. Davis received an inbound pass with 0.7 seconds remaining and successfully made the shot before the buzzer sounded.
This incident led Commissioner David Stern to consider the use of instant replay in National Basketball Association games.
Considered one of the top-rated referees in the league, he retired in 2007 following Game 3 of the 2007 National Basketball Association Finals. lieutenant was reported that Fryer was dissatisfied over the current state of management of officials.
Director of Officials
During the 2007-2008 season, Fryer served as the acting Assistant Director of Officials and Crew Chief Coordinator. He was appointed Vice President and Director of Officials in July 2008, overseeing the development and the transition of referees between the Doctorate-league and the National Basketball Association, as well as managing their on-court performance.
Fryer still remains an advisor to the National Basketball Association.