Dwyane Wade Namedrops Michael Jordan in Strong LeBron James Statement

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (40) is the oldest active player in the NBA. You wouldn't know that, though, by watching him play. 

James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists for the Lakers this season in 70 games while shooting 51.3% from the field, 37.6% from 3 and 78.2% from the free-throw line. The Lakers star was 13th in the NBA in points per game and sixth in assists per game. 

Dwyane Wade, the Hall of Famer who won two championships with James on the Miami Heat, told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that he's surprised James is still playing at a high level at 40. 

Wade, who grew up a Michael Jordan fan in Chicago, said the NBA will miss James once he retires. 

"I’m surprised because you wouldn’t think a guy who’s athletic is going to still be this athletic and not go through athletic things like surgeries or a lot of major injuries," Wade said. "I think most importantly, besides his body, which has been incredible for him, he’s one of the sharpest minds I’ve ever been around. He’s able to continue to show how great his mind is. I want to enjoy it for however long he’s going to play the game of basketball. 

"I want to be a fan and sit there and enjoy each opportunity that I can because one day, he won’t be dribbling a basketball, and we’re going to miss the greatness of him like we miss the greatness of Michael Jordan, like the greatness of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, like the greatness of Bill Russell, and so on. I’m just trying to appreciate this man’s greatness, and I think everybody needs to."