The January day he drew a fine from management for torching his young teammates for what he perceived as lack of commitment and work ethic, Dwyane Wade said there are different forms of leadership.
And from Sunday night into Monday evening, the 14-year veteran displayed a different approach.
First, Wade helped organize a card game Sunday night after the Bulls arrived in Charlotte, N.C., from their dismal loss in Boston, the team's season-high fifth straight. Far more importantly, Wade pulled Nikola Mirotic aside when word came that Mirotic would re-enter the rotation after not playing for three games.
Wade's words aren't why Mirotic scored a season-high 24 points with five 3-pointers. But they didn't hurt.
"My teammates are helping me, encouraging me," Mirotic said.
Wade has seen it all in his NBA career. That's why he has been able to adapt his leadership style to fit different situations.
"Keep them confident," Wade said. "As a leader, you have different ways you have to do things. This is time for the pat on the back, pat on the ass."
Mirotic deserves credit for staying ready too, obviously.
"I've been in the weight room and spending extra hours shooting," he said. "I came to the game with a lot of energy."
