While Miami Heat icon Dwyane Wade is no longer competing alongside LeBron James, the guard is still defending the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
In an interview with Shams Charania of The Athletic, Wade defended James’ inability to make the playoffs in his first season with the Lakers.
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“LeBron’s not a guy that is accustom to losing and not making the playoffs,” Wade said. “Obviously, man, those 18 games that he was out with them, it’s kind of a wash. You can’t even really talk about him not making the playoffs, because of that. They was the fourth seed when he went out. It’s unfortunate.
James, 34, will miss the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, putting his streak of going to the NBA Finals eight straight times to bed. The three-time champion’s first season in Los Angeles has been a disaster as he’s dealt with injuries, drama with teammates, and constant losing.
The early elimination from the playoff battle has earned James plenty of criticism, and made fans wonder if the veteran has lost some of his powers.
“People are trying to attack him a lot from the standpoint of age. It’s no secret that he’s getting older, he’s going to get older every year. It’s no doubt that you’re not the same person you was, but he’s still great.” Wade said. “If this is a bad year for him – this a bad year for him? MVP’s get this kind of year. I think he understands the scrutiny that comes with being LeBron James. Whether he comes out and talks about it or not, he’s driven by something different. That’s why he’s so great. He helps ratings for TV. He knows that. It doesn’t stop nothing. He continues to approach the game the way he approaches it”
Despite the lack of team success, James is having a phenomenal statistical season. The forward is putting up 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game this year.
Wade, on the other hand, isn’t putting up big numbers but is likely gearing up for one final postseason run before he retires this offseason. The 36-year-old is recording 14.3 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds a game this season.
Although the two future Hall of Famers will be ending their seasons differently, they will forever be linked thanks to their fantastic brotherhood, amazing highlights, and two championships captured together in Miami.
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