Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade adjusts his approach as he prepares to turn 30 [Dewitt Watches]
MIAMI — It was a silly, self-promotional question, just the sort that a sports celebrity learns to indulge, especially on a morning devoted to promoting product. After Dwyane Wade unveiled the Fly Wade 2 shoe Wednesday, a television reporter wondered whether the fresh new kicks could help a 48-year-old non-athlete play like the Heat's seven-time All-Star.
"When I'm 48," Wade said with a smile, "I won't be able to play like me."
Wade's not nearly that old yet, so he won't stop skying anytime soon. Still, his Hublot watch ticks toward another milestone, the mention of which, of the "big birthday coming next year," triggered a knowing laugh.
It's jarring to realize he will be 30 in five weeks, that it's been eight years since he arrived in Miami from Marquette, seeming uneasy in the spotlight.
Now, as he enters his ninth season, he's a grown man and a mature brand, a world traveler and an elite endorser, unafraid to share opinions or expand horizons.
In his 20s, he has enjoyed and suffered it all - ultimate victory, major surgery, coast-to-coast coronation, widespread repudiation - and that doesn't even include his eventful personal life.
The question now, considering the finite nature of NBA careers, is how much he will experience ahead.
So it was interesting Wednesday to hear him speak of his approach to the Heat training camp that starts Friday, the season that starts Dec. 25, and the historic challenges implied by hitting the big "3-0" on Jan. 17.
"I just wanted to be lean," Wade said.
When he lifted his shirt, he exposed a symmetrical six-pack the likes of which no suds connoisseur has ever seen.
In some seasons, he has been in what Erik Spoelstra characterized as "freakish" condition; in 2008-09, he was a bit bloated for Pat Riley's liking.
"Every year I played at some kind of different weight, from my first year to last year," Wade said.
Wade said that, for 2011-12, his goal was to feel fresher later in games. He was careful this off-season not to play too many 5-on-5 exhibition games - fewer than LeBron James, for instance -- for fear of burning out early.
"Hopefully, I spread it out well," Wade said.
Some might argue that he spreads himself too thin, that his globetrotting off-season schedule - in addition to fatherhood duties - would wear out even the strongest mortal.
But he appeared to be refreshed Wednesday in body and mind, eager for the opening of camp in part "because a lot of extra stuff cuts out of my life." He's told his agent and business manager to stop calling with requests.
"Riley don't play that," he said.
Wade has always prided himself on playing above the rim, but that comes with risks, risks that only increase with age. Michael Jordan extended his era of excellence by relying less on aerial assaults, and now Kobe Bryant is doing the same.
Of the recent stars, only Allen Iverson has been as fearless and relentless an attacker as Wade - and perhaps only Iverson absorbed as many body shocks.
While Iverson had his highest-scoring season (33.0) after turning 30, and shot the second-highest percentage of his career (45.8 percent) at 32, he had lost the step that made him special by 34.
Will that happen to Wade?
It helps that he is roughly 50 pounds heavier than Iverson, and has taken better care of himself off the floor. But, clearly, he must continue to evolve.
"You always try to add," Wade said. "Every year, I am always trying to add a piece to my game."
And learning to subtract.
"Understanding moments a little different," Wade said. "I've changed since I've been here. I don't drive every time down. I understand sometimes, my body can't take that tonight.
"So, yeah, I've changed, but me totally changing from a penetrator to just a shooter? I'm not at that stage in no time soon - just sit in a corner. That will come one day. That will be like Eddie Jones was when I got here."
Jones was 32 when Wade arrived - effective if not explosive.
Maybe that label will fit Wade down the line. But, even with 30 approaching, it still doesn't fit nearly as well as his shoes.
"When I'm 48," Wade said with a smile, "I won't be able to play like me."
Wade's not nearly that old yet, so he won't stop skying anytime soon. Still, his Hublot watch ticks toward another milestone, the mention of which, of the "big birthday coming next year," triggered a knowing laugh.
It's jarring to realize he will be 30 in five weeks, that it's been eight years since he arrived in Miami from Marquette, seeming uneasy in the spotlight.
Now, as he enters his ninth season, he's a grown man and a mature brand, a world traveler and an elite endorser, unafraid to share opinions or expand horizons.
In his 20s, he has enjoyed and suffered it all - ultimate victory, major surgery, coast-to-coast coronation, widespread repudiation - and that doesn't even include his eventful personal life.
The question now, considering the finite nature of NBA careers, is how much he will experience ahead.
So it was interesting Wednesday to hear him speak of his approach to the Heat training camp that starts Friday, the season that starts Dec. 25, and the historic challenges implied by hitting the big "3-0" on Jan. 17.
"I just wanted to be lean," Wade said.
When he lifted his shirt, he exposed a symmetrical six-pack the likes of which no suds connoisseur has ever seen.
In some seasons, he has been in what Erik Spoelstra characterized as "freakish" condition; in 2008-09, he was a bit bloated for Pat Riley's liking.
"Every year I played at some kind of different weight, from my first year to last year," Wade said.
Wade said that, for 2011-12, his goal was to feel fresher later in games. He was careful this off-season not to play too many 5-on-5 exhibition games - fewer than LeBron James, for instance -- for fear of burning out early.
"Hopefully, I spread it out well," Wade said.
Some might argue that he spreads himself too thin, that his globetrotting off-season schedule - in addition to fatherhood duties - would wear out even the strongest mortal.
But he appeared to be refreshed Wednesday in body and mind, eager for the opening of camp in part "because a lot of extra stuff cuts out of my life." He's told his agent and business manager to stop calling with requests.
"Riley don't play that," he said.
Wade has always prided himself on playing above the rim, but that comes with risks, risks that only increase with age. Michael Jordan extended his era of excellence by relying less on aerial assaults, and now Kobe Bryant is doing the same.
Of the recent stars, only Allen Iverson has been as fearless and relentless an attacker as Wade - and perhaps only Iverson absorbed as many body shocks.
While Iverson had his highest-scoring season (33.0) after turning 30, and shot the second-highest percentage of his career (45.8 percent) at 32, he had lost the step that made him special by 34.
Will that happen to Wade?
It helps that he is roughly 50 pounds heavier than Iverson, and has taken better care of himself off the floor. But, clearly, he must continue to evolve.
"You always try to add," Wade said. "Every year, I am always trying to add a piece to my game."
And learning to subtract.
"Understanding moments a little different," Wade said. "I've changed since I've been here. I don't drive every time down. I understand sometimes, my body can't take that tonight.
"So, yeah, I've changed, but me totally changing from a penetrator to just a shooter? I'm not at that stage in no time soon - just sit in a corner. That will come one day. That will be like Eddie Jones was when I got here."
Jones was 32 when Wade arrived - effective if not explosive.
Maybe that label will fit Wade down the line. But, even with 30 approaching, it still doesn't fit nearly as well as his shoes.
2011-12-08 12:56
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