The Tribune

THE NBA champion Miami Heat thanked the Bahamas and the Atlantis Resort for the warm welcome they received on arriving for their pre-season training camp (Click HERE for Sports story).

The team arrived Monday to warm Bahamian hospitality complemented by a Junkanoo group, and were swiftly transported to Atlantis’ Grand Ballroom, which has been transformed into an NBA-grade court.

Guard Dwyane Wade said the team did not expect such a welcome.

“They built my fantasy camp. We thank Atlantis and the Ministry of Tourism for having us here. We came down here to work as well as refresh our minds, but the biggest thing is that they gave us a great place to work and we are going to do that.

“We come from Miami and it is not too far, but it is the second time we’ve left Miami for practice. So we are just here to get away from everything a little bit, be around each other as a group and have ‘us time’ because we don’t have that as much as we like.”

Wade called the Junkanoo performance “awesome”.

“It was great. I was wondering how long they were going to keep on dancing. They are in unbelievable shape.”

Forward LeBron James said the court at Atlantis is of the calibre they are used to.

“To be welcomed with open arms, it was cool. We are humbled by it,” he added.