Winning performance
Wade lauds Kobe’s Oscar, says no desire to be a leading man on screen
MIAMI — Kobe Bryant has raised the bar with Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade when it comes to their competition and respect.
But even with his own dabbling in movie production and acting, Wade said Monday he had nothing but admiration for Bryant on Sunday winning an Academy Award for the animated short film “Dear Basketball.”
“It was incredible, man,” Wade said of the former Los Angeles Lakers guard, long-time rival and friend. “First off, his animation talents and his stories are something that I enjoy. And to be able to go outside of the sport that people know you in and as, and to do something that is one of the most popular things when it comes to awards that you can have in this world, he’s just getting started.
“And to be in the position where he wins an Oscar, it does amazing things for the next generation and the next wave of athletes, of kids, as well, when you talk about being more than just a professional athlete. So, incredible, man, just incredible. And I’m happy for him, but I’m thankful for him, because now he just set a bar and it’s our job to continue to raise the bar.”
Wade recently served as an executive producer, along with Chance the Rapper, on a basketball documentary, “A Shot in the Dark,” that has had several recent screenings and has aired on Fox’s sports network.
“Just like players before us on the basketball court have set bars, Kobe has now set a bar for guys,” Wade said before the Heat faced the Phoenix Suns at AmericanAirlines Arena. “I’m not saying everyone is going to get to Oscar status, but he definitely has set a bar of success when you get done playing and doing something that you love to do.”
Wade had dabbled in acting, including an appearance in the 2010 basketball movie “Just Wright” that starred Queen Latifah and Common. But he said he will leaving the acting in the family to wife Gabrielle Union.
“I’m just going to focus on my wife doing it. I’m going to support her doing that,” he said with a laugh.
“Nah, nah, man, I’m not focused on that right now. I’m not really focused on that part of that. I support my wife doing that and it’s cool and I love it. I tune in and watch, but it’s not my focus.”
Walton returns
The Heat recalled guard Derrick Walton Jr. from their developmental-league affiliate, the G League Sioux Falls Skyforce, for added backcourt depth amid the injury uncertainty with Wayne Ellington and Tyler Johnson.
With the move, both of the Heat’s players on two-way contracts are back in the NBA, with Derrick Jones Jr. recalled last week from the Skyforce. It leaves each with four remaining days they can spend on an NBA roster this season under the terms of their two-way deals.
The two were recalled amid Johnson and Ellington dealing with bruised left quadriceps.
Walton appeared in 21 games (all starts) with the Skyforce, averaging 16.4 points, 6.9 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.57 steals in 32.1 minutes per game, shooting .448 from the field, .372 on 3-pointers and .909 from the foul line. He has helped lead Sioux Falls to a 23-19 record, with the Skyforce in first place in the G League Midwest division and third overall in the Western Conference.
With the Heat, the undrafted rookie out of Michigan has appeared in 14 games, averaging 1.9 points and 1.1 assists in 9.8 minutes per game, shooting .333 from the field, .412 in 3-pointers, and 4 of 4 from the foul line.