LOS ANGELES – The Monday night matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat marked the last time superstar LeBron James and Dwyane Wade would go head-to-head on the basketball court in the NBA. Wade has announced he'll retire at the end of the 2018-19 campaign making this game at the Staples Center an important one.
Wade, who finished with 15 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds off the bench, talked about his farewell tour in Los Angeles and where he sees the LeBron-led Lakers going.
“They've grown from the beginning of the season,” Wade said. “You just want to see how they progress throughout this year. They should be very confident knowing that they got that guy on their team. The things he was able to do tonight. The shots he hit. The way he can take over a game. That's comforting knowing that you have that.
“And then, Kuzma. Hell of a player. Hart, hell of a player. They got the right kind of players here with Zo Ball being a guy that's able to facilitate. Doesn't need to score to have a great game. They just got to continue. Experience is a key for them. As the season goes on, they will get more of it.”
After Monday's win over the Heat, the Lakers are now 17-10 on the season and are very much in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference. Although it hasn't been an easy transition for anyone involved in purple and gold, James and company have shown signs of promise with the halfway point of the season right around the corner.
“I have no doubt this team will be in the Finals at some point,” Wade said of the Lakers. “This guy can play for as long as he want and I'll be here to see it.”
It was no doubt a shaky start in Los Angeles for LeBron as it took some time to build chemistry with the young squad, but now it appears the Lakers may be a force to be dealt with in another MVP-caliber year for the three-time NBA champion.
With talented young players like Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball making a name for themselves, LeBron is leading this team up the ranks in a highly competitive conference. Only time will tell how far this team can go, but the young squad led by the savvy veteran has shown why this is where James wanted to be.
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