NBA champions Miami Heat said they could not have asked for a better place to hold their preseason training camp.
And according to two-time MVP forward LeBron James, their time in the Bahamas has been very productive.
“We have gotten better and it was great to see guys excited about being back and excited about basketball,” he said.
James thanked Bahamians for opening their arms and doors to the Miami Heat organisation.
“We had a great time. It was fun. Now it is time to get back to Miami,” he said after the final practice session on Friday morning in the Imperial Ballroom – which was transformed into a gym with a double basketball court.
At the send off for the Miami Heat from Odyssey Aviation were members of the National Children’s Choir, who performed a medley of Bahamian tunes while holding cards which said, “3 Peat” and “3 Straight”.
James said he would not mind another training camp in the Bahamas, where the players got the opportunity to bond and engage in lots of camaraderie on and off the court.
“It was very enjoyable. We worked our tails for five practices and the afternoon we went around the pool. We had lots of laughter being together and continue to build that friendship we have always had. It is great to be around people who enjoy each other,” he said.
Training camp runs until October 28, but James said he is still sharpening his skills in preparation for opening night.
“I use each and every practice as preparation to get ready for opening night and I use every preseason as well. I don’t take preseason practice lightly. When I am out there on the floor I am giving it my all. I have a lot of time to prepare for the opening night,” he said.
James, also refereed to as “King James”, also responded to his No 6 jersey being the top-selling jersey worldwide during the NBA’s 2012-13 season.
“I find it very humbling to know that I have so many fans, so many people who look up to me as a role model and I just want to continue to be an inspiration to them to see I have the number one jersey worldwide means a lot. I am happy to be able to represent my family, to represent this organisation and to represent the NBA means a lot.”
Echoing these sentiments, teammate Dwayne Wade said: “It’s been one of my favourite training camps in my 11 years. To come down here as a team after winning back-to-back championship to see the intensity in here, to see the focus, and to be here as group, as a unit to really enjoy each other. We are a special team, a special group and it is times like this that you really get to see it.”
He also stated that the Bahamas has been great to the team with its hospitality, which was really appreciated.
“It’s amazing and now that we are getting ready to leave, I am getting sad. I enjoyed it here, it has been great. It has been one of the best four days training that we can have,” Wade said after the final practice Friday morning.
“We understand that first of all, that we weren’t going to be here if they felt we could not handle it and we know what’s the main objective, the main goal for our team is this training camp — getting in here and getting in season shape, learning and working hard.”
Describing the Miami Heat as a unit he said, “You can put us anywhere on this green earth and we will do that. It was great to come here in the Bahamas not too far away from Miami. Now we go back and not only to spend time with our families but continue on the process of getting better.”
He said the DNA of the team will probably never change, as long as the same principles remain in place.
“We have made adjustments to personnel but pretty much what we do is what we do.”
Erik Spoelstra, head coach, said the team enjoyed the whole experience while training here, which brought the players closer.
“You never know how these times translate on the court but I know that we spent a great deal of time with each other and getting back around the family. Our guys loved it; enjoyed it. We feel like it’s a part of becoming a close-knit group and we just enjoyed being down here and working at the same time. Our guys respected that to do something a little different but still tried to accomplish the work part of it. We got a lot accomplished this week. The hospitality was incredible,” he said.
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