NBA: LeBron James talks about Dwyane Wade and the Heat: “More than a basketball player”.

In the run-up to his Cleveland Cavaliers’ duel against the Miami Heat, LeBron James was questioned about the activism of his good friend Dwyane Wade during the rampage in Parkland, Florida. The King also looked back on his own time in Miami.

Wade had recently visited the Stoneman Douglas School in Parkland and also spoke out in favour of changing the gun laws in the USA as part of the “March For Our Lives”. James acknowledged this: “This is simply who he is. When he develops a passion for something, he gets involved and always tries to have a positive influence. This must be acknowledged. But it’s no surprise to me. We all know what he stands for. He’s much more than a basketball player.”

James, who has often spoken on social issues in the past and also harshly criticized US President Donald Trump, was also asked during the shootaround whether he himself had role models or had received instructions from certain players. However, the superstar denied this.

“I don’t know how much you know about me, but I’ve taught myself most of my life, or learned it myself,” James said, “I’ve learned how to behave professionally, how I talk about certain topics and how I am a man. The only thing I had guidance on was basketball. But for everything else, I had to get the instructions myself. I had no role model to look up to.”

James’ own time in Miami was also discussed before the duel against the Heat. Between 2010 and 2014 James had played at the Heat and reached the finals four times in a row. 2012 and 2013 the Heatles both won the title, “This is still a special place for me,” James looked back, “I had four great years here. It would be inhuman not to be a little emotional when I play here.”

Since he is already in his 15th year of life. James was also asked if, in retrospect, the time on South Beach felt like a stopover, “No, it feels more like it had been a long time,” James said, “We had felt like five seasons in one at the time.

The Cavaliers (rank 3: 44-29) and the Heat (rank 8: 39-35) meet at 2am on Wednesday night.