During a crucial moment on February 28th, Boston Celtics` Jaylen Brown was attempting to break the Cleveland Cavaliers` eight-game winning streak. After scoring twice against Darius Garland, Brown tried to exploit the mismatch by setting a screen. However, Dean Wade, Brown`s defender, stood firm. Wade disrupted the play, forcing a miss, and helping the Cavs secure a stop and continue their winning streak.
Despite scoring only five points in 19 minutes in that game, Wade`s impact went beyond the box score. Unlike a previous game where he scored 20 points against the Celtics, this time his defensive contribution was key. While he didn`t have a celebratory moment like his past offensive outburst, this game truly showcased his role on the team.
`I call him White Blanket,` said Cleveland center Tristan Thompson, emphasizing Wade`s defensive prowess, `because you can`t score on him.`
Thompson remembers Wade`s journey from moving between the Cavs and the G League. `They worked him incredibly hard,` Thompson recalled. `He really grinded, especially when the team wasn`t performing well. But he persevered and became the player he is today through hard work.` Now, six years into his NBA career, Wade is a vital part of the team, capable of effectively defending against top players like Brown, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Cade Cunningham. `He creates problems for them.`
The odds were stacked against Wade in 2019 when he joined the NBA as an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract. It`s rare for players in his position to have longevity in the league, especially with the team that initially signed them. Since 2017, hundreds of two-way contracts have been signed, but only a handful of players, including Wade, have remained with their first team for six years. (Others include Duncan Robinson, Lu Dort, Naz Reid, Amir Coffey, and John Konchar.)
`When I was on a two-way contract, I couldn`t afford to think about the future,` Wade admitted. `There was too much uncertainty. I focused only on the present day, my daily workouts, and then relaxing with Call of Duty at home.`
With Thompson`s departure and return, Wade and Garland are now the longest-tenured players in Cleveland. The team`s communications staff has often corrected media outlets that mistakenly identify Garland as the sole longest-tenured player.
`I tell him he`s playing with house money,` Thompson said. `He should always be confident on the court because he has earned his place.`
Wade describes his six seasons in Cleveland as an `unbelievable journey.` `I`m not sure why they kept me around, but I`m still here,` he joked. However, his integral role in the Eastern Conference`s top team is no accident. `He elevates our team,` stated Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. `He adds versatility.` Before a knee injury in January, Wade started in 26 games, primarily as a small forward, but the coaching staff also utilizes him as a small-ball center. He may not be a flashy player or an awards contender, but he`s the kind of player who can significantly impact a playoff series.
`I was genuinely concerned when we lost him due to injury,` Atkinson confessed. `I realized he`s a crucial link to our winning formula. We managed to cope, but I`m incredibly happy to have him back.`
Defensive Prowess Developed Over Time
While Wade was always a reliable defender in high school and college, his current defensive abilities are exceptional. `He has become an outstanding wing defender,` remarked Clint Kinnamon, his high school coach. `He always possessed great athleticism, but if you had told me he would become one of the league`s premier wing defenders, I would have been surprised.` After college, Wade and his agents emphasized his versatility in guarding multiple positions. While he was known for his agility for his size, he didn`t initially envision himself as a defensive stopper against the league`s top stars.
`I never thought of myself as a defensive specialist,` Wade said. `I developed into that role, but it wasn`t what I anticipated coming out of college.`
Wade joined a Cavaliers team in a rebuilding phase. He experienced demanding summer league practices under coach John Beilein. `When I entered the league, the team was in a strange place,` Wade recalled. Beilein`s tenure was short-lived, and the team made roster changes, experimenting with lineups that included multiple traditional centers. Wade and Larry Nance Jr. sometimes found themselves playing out of position alongside non-shooting centers.
`It was chaotic,` Wade admitted. `We had some unconventional lineups.`
However, this challenging environment provided an opportunity for Wade`s development. `The front office was incredibly supportive throughout the rebuilding process,` Wade said. `Despite the rough start, they encouraged us to stay committed and assured us that positive outcomes were coming.` In the G League, Wade was placed in diverse roles, including defending smaller, quicker guards, which aided his development, according to Nate Reinking, then coach of the Charge.
Early in his career, Wade observed the routines of veterans like Thompson, Nance, and Love. In his second year, he dedicated himself to strength training. He understood that physical strength was crucial to becoming an elite defender, and he was determined to earn playing time through his defense.
`I believe that defense, especially in this league with incredible athletes, is largely a mental aspect,` Wade stated. `Players have the capability if they prioritize it.`
Wade significantly improved, increasing his playing time from minimal minutes as a rookie to substantial minutes in his second season. As he gained strength and trust from the coaching staff, his self-perception evolved. He actively sought the challenge of guarding the league`s best players.
`I took pride in that responsibility,` Wade affirmed. `And I still do.`
Garland noted that Wade carries `a chip on his shoulder` due to being undrafted and often overlooked. While reserved publicly, this inner drive is evident in his focused approach when matched up against high-profile opponents.
Humble Beginnings and Team-Oriented Mentality
Wade played under coach Kinnamon for nine years, starting in third grade. Initially, Wade was very shy and sometimes hesitated to go to practice. His mother, Trish, a coach herself, would encourage him to attend, and once there, he was always engaged and dedicated.
From a young age, Wade was eager to learn. He was coachable and always sought to please his coaches. However, his shyness sometimes translated to being too passive on the court, requiring encouragement from Kinnamon to be more assertive offensively.
`He never wanted to appear selfish,` Kinnamon explained.
This team-first mentality persisted in the G League. Coach Reinking advised Wade to be more assertive and take open shots, emphasizing that it wasn`t selfish but beneficial for the team.
`It was about building his confidence to shoot,` Reinking said. `He possessed great skill, but he is such a team player.`
Wade, who has shot 37% from three-point range in the NBA, has consistently been encouraged to shoot more throughout his career. `I`m taking the right shots now,` he says. In high school, he prioritized involving teammates, and later, he sometimes passed up shots believing he could create better opportunities. However, his Cavs coaches, including Atkinson, have consistently conveyed the message that open shots from him are valuable team plays and that they trust his shooting ability.
Brad Korn, a former assistant coach at Kansas State, connected with Wade due to their shared small-town backgrounds. `Small-town kids sometimes limit their dreams,` Korn observed. `They might be content with being good, without realizing they can dream bigger.` Korn encouraged Wade to recognize his NBA potential and the opportunity to pursue basketball as a career.
Korn worked individually with Wade for three years, emphasizing Wade`s inherent talent and potential. In his office, he displayed a sign `DBAP,` an inside joke referring to the phrase `Dean, be a player,` as a constant reminder for Wade to be assertive. When Wade made a mistake in practice, Korn would simply point to the sign.
Wade is a natural basketball player, according to Korn. While coaches have encouraged him to be more aggressive offensively, his instinct to make the right play is valuable, especially on a team with many scoring options. `I didn`t need to learn how to play off-ball in the NBA,` Wade stated, highlighting a key reason for his successful fit in Cleveland.
`We can`t have it both ways,` Korn added, suggesting that if Wade were solely focused on scoring, he might not have found the same NBA success and could have ended up playing overseas.
Perfect Fit in Cleveland
Both on and off the court, Wade is unassuming and approachable. `He`s just a regular person,` Kinnamon said. Every summer, Wade returns to his hometown and to Manhattan, Kansas.
Cleveland is `the perfect city` for Wade and his family, aligning with his personality and values. `A quieter, blue-collar city. The fans truly support the team, even during tough times.` Wade expresses his desire to remain in Cleveland long-term.
A last-minute phone call led Wade to work out for the Cavs before the 2019 NBA Draft. He was at the Detroit Metro Airport, expecting to return home, when his agent redirected him to Cleveland. Due to a flight cancellation, he spent the night at an airport hotel, using provided toiletries and wearing the same clothes to his early morning workout.
`They picked me up from the airport at 7 a.m., and my workout was at 8,` Wade described. `I went straight to the gym with minimal sleep and in the same clothes.`
Despite the circumstances, Wade impressed in his workout. He then returned home to a surprise draft party organized by his mother. He anticipated going undrafted due to past foot injuries. However, before the draft concluded, the Cavaliers offered him a two-way contract, presenting a clear path to playing time compared to another offer from Minnesota. Accepting the Cavs` offer, he celebrated the news with family and friends.
Looking back, Wade acknowledges the fortunate circumstances that led him to Cleveland, a perfect fit for his skills and personality. But the Cavaliers also benefited from signing him. Korn believes that had Wade not been injured in college, he could have been a lottery pick. His performance in college and now in the NBA suggests a high ceiling.
In a recent game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Wade`s two corner three-pointers and defense against Giannis Antetokounmpo highlighted his versatility and value. Coach Atkinson emphasized Wade`s importance in allowing defensive flexibility. Wade`s ability to defend multiple positions, shoot threes, and contribute offensively makes him a valuable asset for any team.
`Dean is that kind of player,` Korn concluded. `He could play for any team, at any level. He`s a plug-and-play player.`
Jasper Hawthorne