Dwyane Wade said in a Miami Heat roster & rumors update that he is excited to play again in the upcoming 2014-15 NBA season despite the departure of his good friend, LeBron James.
Wade said in an interview with Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report that he still likes their chances this year after the team acquired veterans Luol Deng, Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts, while also retaining Chris Bosh.
Wade admitted in the interview that while he is proud of what they have accomplished last season, he said that last year's campaign wasn't fun because of the attention and immense pressure on their shoulders after winning back-to-back NBA championships.
"It was great, you know, we went to the Finals four years in a row, and it was everything we wanted from that standpoint, but sometimes throughout that run, at certain times, it just wasn't fun," Wade admitted Miami Heat roster & rumors update. "Individually, it was great having certain relationships and having my best friend here with me, but all of us didn't have fun all the time."
Wade had a rough year last season as he was slowed down by several injuries, which forced the Heat to manage his playing time and number of games played. The 32-year-old superstar only played in 54 games where he averaged 19.0 points to go along with 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds.
They were tipped to win their third straight title last season, but they ran through a brick wall, losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals in five games.
The loss to the Spurs led to James' departure this offseason as the four-time Most Valuable Player decided to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But despite James' decision to leave Miami, Wade said in the Miami Heat roster & rumors interview that he will remain good friends with the Cavaliers superstar. The newyly wed said that they used to hang out even before the 29-year-old took his talents to South Beach.
"Whether we are playing together or not, we're friends," Wade said. "Me and Chris [Bosh], we all have our certain friends, no matter what the game of basketball brings or doesn't bring. Those are friends beyond. People are gonna try to make it something. But we're not really worried about it."
