Why Bulls' Wade loves competing against LeBron James
The Bulls would clearly like to bounce back from a frustrating loss to the Lakers by delivering a promising performance against the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday at the United Center.
But who are we kidding? This matchup is intriguing mostly because of the Dwyane Wade-LeBron James reunion.
They matched up the past two seasons when the Cavs played Wade's Miami Heat, but this one will be different since Wade followed James' lead and returned home to Chicago.
The Bulls have been one of James' biggest rivals throughout his career. Now an old friend is on the other side.
"The past is the past," Wade said Thursday at the Advocate Center. "We had some amazing memories that will last a lifetime. Now, he's in the Finals the last two years (with Cleveland). I'm in a different environment, arena and city. I'm trying to do something different here. So it's just totally different."
Wade, of course, has a different perspective than most Chicagoans. The Bulls have been mostly on the losing side of the LeBron rivalry, so James is a respected but disliked opponent in Chicago, except for a brief pause in the summer of 2010 when there was a chance he might sign here.
Wade convinced James to join him in Miami that summer and they won four straight Eastern Conference titles together, and two NBA championships. Now that it's time to compete against him, Wade didn't shy away from the assignment.
"I love both. I've always said it: Kobe (Bryant) and LeBron have always been my favorite guys to play against," Wade said. "It's just something about those games for me that's always been a little special. I won't be one of those cliché athletes to say it's just another game. It's never just another game for me to play against those guys. I just enjoy it more. Simple as that.
"I enjoy playing against LeBron more than anybody else just because of the things I know he's going to bring to the game. Great people bring greatness out of you. He's always done that for me and vice versa."
Wade and James were both in the 2003 draft class, but Wade is a few years older and when they became teammates in 2010 he had already won a championship. So Wade was something of a mentor, but he said the knowledge flowed in both directions.
"You cannot be around someone who is great and not learn something from him. If you don't, something is wrong with you. The one thing I always said about LeBron is I thought he was an unbelievable teammate. I thought as a leader and someone who gets as much attention as he gets, he does an unbelievable job of making his teammates feel like they're him in a sense.
"They all walk with that same swagger and confidence. He takes them along the ride with him. I definitely learned some stuff from his leadership and the way he prepares. Not many people can prepare the way he prepares because your body is not built like he is. He's great for a reason."
With no personal ties to James, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg was less emotional about Friday's game.
"We look at it as the next opportunity to go out and see if we can improve as a basketball team," he said. "After the last one there's a lot of improvements we have to make."
• Get the latest Bulls news via Twitter @McGrawDHBulls.
Bulls game day
Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at the United Center, 7 p.m. Friday
TV: Comcast SportsNet, ESPN
Radio: WLS 890-AM
Outlook: The Cavs lost their third game of the season on Tuesday in Milwaukee, then hosted the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. PG Kyrie Irving has taken over the team scoring lead this season with 24.5 ppg. LeBron James is close behind, averaging 23.5 points, along with career-highs in assists (9.3) and rebounds (8.1). PF Kevin Love is having his best year by far since joining the Cavs, with 21.8 points and 10.9 rebounds. PF Channing Fye (11.3 ppg) is the only other player averaging in double figures. Cleveland is second in the league in scoring at 111.3 ppg. The Bulls went 3-1 against the Cavs last season and have won three straight at the United Center.
Next: Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center on Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
- Mike McGraw