IN THE LANE

RESPECT RESTORED: Among the Heat’s failings in the 2011 NBA Finals was the mockery of Dirk Nowitzki pushing through illness to lead the Dallas Mavericks to that championship in the Heat’s first Big Three season.

But with James in Dallas the day the Mavericks unveiled their statue of Dirk Nowitzki, one of the former forward shooting a trademark jumper, James said the tribute was spot on.“Before the availment of what the statue would look like, I already knew what the statue was gonna look like,”James said.“It had to be a fade-away, one leg. Had to be, no question about it. Dirk is a legend. He’s an icon.” Now only with respect.“I think he’s the greatest international player ever,”James said.“I put him right there with Manu [Ginobili].”

NEW FOOTING: A championship assistant alongside Erik Spoelstra with the Heat, and then coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks, David Fizdale again finds himself alongside Wade, this time as associate general manager of the Utah Jazz. At Fizdale, 48, explained to ESPN’s Andscape it was the right move at the right time. Fizdale said becoming a father had him thinking about stepping away from coaching, which also included time as a Lakers assistant in 2021-22. That led to a conversation with Wade, now a Jazz part owner. Ultimatly, it came down to a conversation with Jazz CEO, Danny Ainge, the Heat’s former Celtics front-office rival.“He said, ‘Listen, I talked to D-Wade about this a while ago. I should have already called you about this,” Fizdale said, later continuing,“He just laid it out. Associate GM. He said people need to know that this is serious. We’ll do this for a year, we’ll come back together at the end of the year, if you still feel like this is something that you want to do.” Fizdale had a standing offer to become a Nate McMillan assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks, when he instead took the Jazz offer.

STILL GRINDING: Former Heat championship forward James Posey, currently working as a Washington Wizards assistant, says the goal remains to work as a head coach.“I’m just keeping my head down, working hard and hopefully I’ll show enough progress to where the opportunity presents itself,” Posey told NBCSports Washington. “Outside of that, I have fun every day. Every day is another day in paradise. I love what I do.” Posey, 45, is the only former player on the staff of Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. “There’s ways he can say things to players that maybe aren’t as delicate as they should be, but I think the message is conveyed,” Unseld said.“I think he has a good sense and beat of the pulse of the group, which is an important thing because he’s been through it.” Posey won NBA titles in 2006 with the Heat and 2008 with the Boston Celtics.He also shared in the Cavaliers’ 2006 championship as an assistant coach.

LEARNING CURVES: More than purely a Udonis Haslem- style mentor, Heat point guard Kyle Lowry still is not beyond taking on projects. This time around it’s rookie center Orlando Robinson, after working last season with rookie big man Omer Yurtseven. Lowry said the difference is Robinson is not necessarily here to stay, based on his two-way contract.“I think it’s similar in a sense. But at the same time, it’s different,” Lowry said.“Orlando is on a two-way. He’s kind of like, ‘I’m coming up and giving you what I can.’ He’s just trying to help these guys get better. My job is to make these guys get easy looks, easy shots, feel comfortable out there and try to be able to support their family and get contracts. That’s all I can think about is trying to help those get better individually and win games.”