Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade discussed how the current squad compares to the 2016 championship team in a recent interview with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Wade highlighted Kevin Love’s influence on his development, saying he learned from watching Love’s workouts and on-court habits early in his career.
“I used to stay after practice just to observe his routine,” Wade said, noting that playing alongside Love in his second and third year taught him about efficiency in the short roll. He recalled Love’s legendary 30-30 game as an example of the veteran’s impact.
Wade emphasized that Love’s defensive play and consistent footwork shaped his approach, even as the former All-Star’s athleticism declined over time. “He had a huge impact on my career just by doing what he normally did,” Wade explained.
Reflecting on his own role, Wade said he studied traditional forwards early in his career but now adapts techniques from multiple players to succeed at the three. He credited players like Al Harrington and David Lee as part of his defensive learning process.
Through 53 games this season, Wade has averaged 5.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.5 minutes per game. He has shot 43.7% from the field and 36.7% from three, contributing to the Cavaliers’ balanced rotation.
Cleveland sits fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 41-27 record as of March 17, 2026, maintaining a playoff position while relying on Wade and other versatile forwards to provide depth behind Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
