Heat’s Duke side trip produces memories, time with Coach K

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It was the rare Miami Heat road trip within a road trip, one Dwyane Wade, Justise Winslow, Udonis Haslem and James Johnson say they won’t soon forget.

With Duke playing Wake Forest on Tuesday night in Durham, N.C., the four Miami Heat players made the trip to see Winslow’s Blue Devils take on Johnson’s Demon Deacons.

The trip, by private plane, included face time for Winslow, Haslem and Wade with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.

“JJ brought up to me he wanted to go to the game,” Winslow said before Wednesday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. “And I don’t know how many more times I’ll be able to be with D-Wade and UD together, so I wanted to invite [them] and let ‘em see my ‘hood and where I went to school and my people. So it was a great time.

“It was just a good time to bridge the two gaps together, and then to see where I came from. Obviously D-Wade played for Coach K, so they have that relationship.”

Wade’s time playing for Krzyzewski in the Olympic program was featured in a video presentation during the game, making the invitation from Winslow even more meaningful.

“I’d never been to Duke. I’d never been to Cameron Indoor Stadium,” said Wade, who played collegiately at Marquette and is retiring after this season. “So it was cool to have that experience. And he gave us the VIP treatment. I like what the young fella did.

“For me, it was cool to be able to sit back, talk to Coach K and the coaching staff that I’ve been knowing for a while, from obviously our Olympic days.”

Haslem, who played at Florida, also relished the unique atmosphere.

“I enjoyed it, just having a first-hand look how it is to be an honorary Dukie for a night,” he said. “It’s a little overwhelming. It’s a lot going on.

“Coach K was amazing. I sat down and really actually had a chance to talk to him, which is my first time ever having a chance to talk to him, and I see why he’s had the success that he had and I see why his guys love him.”

As for his face time with his former coach, Winslow said it reminded him of the fortune of playing for Krzyzewski and under Heat President Pat Riley.

“I don’t get intimidated anymore, but there was a time in my life that he kind of intimidated me,” Winslow said of Krzyzewski. “And it’s kind of the same dynamic with the Godfather here in Miami, Coach Riley. Those guys have been around the game for a long time. They’re great basketball minds on and off the court.”

Haslem was impressed by Winslow’s influence, with Winslow having spent a single season at Duke.

“For a guy who just got out, they rolled out the red carpet for him,” he said of the Heat’s 2015 first-round NBA draft pick.

“That was his house,” Johnson said, “and they treat him like it.”

Johnson said he savored the time traveling with Wade and Haslem, talking about basketball, “and what our sons are going to do when they get to that age.”

As for the final result, with Duke pulling out a one-point win, Johnson said, “incredible for Justise, not incredible for me.”

As far as the cost of the trip, Winslow said he picked up the tab, but joked there might yet be a Venmo request to the rest of the traveling party.