Dion Waiters to watch Dwyane Wade to learn to play with LeBron James
Although the Cleveland Cavaliers are obviously excited to have the game’s best player, forward LeBron James as a teammate, they know there will be an adjustment. The Cavaliers have a pair of ball dominant guards in point guard Kyrie Irving and shooting guard Dion Waiters, which is the have often liked Waiters as a reserve.
More from LeBron James
- LeBron James, Giannis, Damian Lillard all want that Mbappé money
- We finally have the worst LeBron James take of all time, and it’s glorious
- Bruce Brown takes shot at Lakers, LeBron James after cashing in
- LeBron James confirms the obvious about retirement in fiery ESPYs speech
- The new NBA flopping rules explained
Waiters, who wants to start next season, believes he can learn to play with James by watching tape of the way Dwyane Wade adjusted his game when James signed with the Miami Heat back in 2010.
“I have to make adjustments,” Waiters said via ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst. “I like to have the ball, and we have Kyrie, and he likes to have the ball. So I have to find ways to impact the game without having the ball. I’m planning to go watch tape to see what D-Wade did when he played with LeBron. I need to learn how to be effective out there with him.”
Waiters respects the way Wade adjusted his game to play with James.
“[Wade] is a ball-dominant guard, too, and when LeBron came over, he had to change his game, too,” Waiters said. “He was so efficient, though, and that really helped their game. I think I can learn a lot from what he did.”
Waiters put up 15.9 points, 3.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 43.3% from the floor, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 68.5% from the free throw line last season. James put up 27.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 56.7% from the field, 37.9% from three and 75.0% from the charity stripe last season. Wade went for 19.0 points, 4.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 54.5% from the field, 28.1% from three and 73.3% from the free throw line.