Wade Praises James' Court Vision Ahead of NBA Cup Clash
The Sixers guard called his new teammate's basketball intelligence otherworldly during a pregame interview in Cleveland.
By Michael Bennett ·
Dean Wade described LeBron James' basketball intelligence as otherworldly while speaking to reporters on Friday morning at Rocket Arena. The Philadelphia 76ers guard made the comments during the team's pregame shootahead ahead of their contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Wade said he has never met a person with a higher basketball IQ than James. He noted that James can identify an opposing team's play before the ball is even in bounds. Wade characterized the experience as unbelievable and stated that it does not feel real.
The guard pointed to opening night at Madison Square Garden as a specific example. Wade watched that game in street clothes due to an ankle injury. He observed James calling out a New York Knicks play the moment the team lined up after a timeout. James identified the back-side action and called out every step of the play before it was executed.
Wade said being around James daily has changed his perspective on the All-Star's acumen. He appreciated the questions James asks during walkthroughs. Wade added that James notices details in games that are not always visible when watching film. Wade said he knew James was intelligent but found the behind-the-scenes process incredible to witness.
The NBA Cup Group Play game on Friday holds personal weight for both players. Wade spent the first seven years of his NBA career in Cleveland, rising from a second-round pick to a respected two-way role player. James returns to a city close to his hometown of Akron, where he brought the 2016 NBA title.
Wade recalled that every previous visit by James to Cleveland created a loud atmosphere. He described the local fans as awesome and expected the game to be super loud with a lot of energy. Wade predicted the night would be fun for everyone in the building.
