Miami will have a very special guest tomorrow at courtside to root for them (Article below):
MIAMI—
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade conducted their post-practice interviews together last season.
They have since separated them, but on Saturday they once again shared their time in front of the tape recorders and microphones. Only this time they took turns fulfilling their media duties alongside the Miami Heat's "new point guard."
Thiago D'Elia, a 17-year-old cancer patient, was the center of attention at practice. He worked out with the team as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His story will be aired on ESPN.
After participating in a half-court shooting contest with the team, D'Elia accompanied James and Wade to meet with reporters.
The red No. 32 Heat jersey he wore was hung in the team locker room.
"My heart was so pounding so fast," said D'Elia, whose family was flown in from the Atlanta area. "I thought I was going to have to call the [emergency room] real quick."
D'Elia worked on fundamentals with James after practice, shooting jumpshots and free throws. James then gave him a gift basket that included an autographed jersey and basketball.
D'Elia will sit courtside for Sunday's game against the Detroit Pistons at AmericanAirlines Arena.
He said he waited nearly two years for his wish to be granted.
"I'm not one of those who lose sleep over it," D'Elia said of the moment. "I kind of wanted to sleep so it would come faster."
The Heat said the moment put things into perspective, especially after the reaction from loss to Memphis Grizzlies Friday. It made their issues seem minor.
"After a night like last night, it certainly keeps everything in perspective for all of us," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We are in the toy department of human affairs."
James answered just two questions from the press, all pertaining to D'Elia. Basketball was secondary.
"Every now and then, we get caught up in [basketball] and we start to take it too serious," forward Udonis Haslem said.
"We let it get us down. Make no mistake about it, we want to be as perfect as possible and play the best basketball as we can. But outside of basketball, people are going through real-life situations and have real-life issues."
MIAMI—
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade conducted their post-practice interviews together last season.
They have since separated them, but on Saturday they once again shared their time in front of the tape recorders and microphones. Only this time they took turns fulfilling their media duties alongside the Miami Heat's "new point guard."
Thiago D'Elia, a 17-year-old cancer patient, was the center of attention at practice. He worked out with the team as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His story will be aired on ESPN.
After participating in a half-court shooting contest with the team, D'Elia accompanied James and Wade to meet with reporters.
The red No. 32 Heat jersey he wore was hung in the team locker room.
"My heart was so pounding so fast," said D'Elia, whose family was flown in from the Atlanta area. "I thought I was going to have to call the [emergency room] real quick."
D'Elia worked on fundamentals with James after practice, shooting jumpshots and free throws. James then gave him a gift basket that included an autographed jersey and basketball.
D'Elia will sit courtside for Sunday's game against the Detroit Pistons at AmericanAirlines Arena.
He said he waited nearly two years for his wish to be granted.
"I'm not one of those who lose sleep over it," D'Elia said of the moment. "I kind of wanted to sleep so it would come faster."
The Heat said the moment put things into perspective, especially after the reaction from loss to Memphis Grizzlies Friday. It made their issues seem minor.
"After a night like last night, it certainly keeps everything in perspective for all of us," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We are in the toy department of human affairs."
James answered just two questions from the press, all pertaining to D'Elia. Basketball was secondary.
"Every now and then, we get caught up in [basketball] and we start to take it too serious," forward Udonis Haslem said.
"We let it get us down. Make no mistake about it, we want to be as perfect as possible and play the best basketball as we can. But outside of basketball, people are going through real-life situations and have real-life issues."
