Dean Wade was just like everybody else when the Philadelphia 76ers signed LeBron James. He was enjoying the offseason with his family as he was outside with his daughter and nephews. He didn't even have his phone near him when the news broke. He found out when he went back inside."I think I was at my sister's house, actually," Wade marveled as he told Sixers Wire. "I took my daughter and my nephews were playing outside, and I didn't really have my phone, but I checked my phone, and everyone was just like, 'Dude, what do you think? What do you think?' Im like, 'What are you talking about?' And then, yeah, I looked at my phone. I was like, 'Wow.' It was crazy. It really was. It, like, doesn't even feel real, really."James will enter his 24th season still playing at such a high level. Wade, 29, was six years old when James made his NBA debut back in October of 2003. Playing next to a guy like James is an interesting moment for somebody like him at this stage of his career."Yeah, absolutely," Wade smiled. "Playing with somebody that's considered the greatest of all time is definitely a surreal thing. I mean, it's awesome. The opportunity is going to be amazing, and I'm excited for it, but yeah, it does feel kind of surreal and kind of different."Wade is among the new additions to a Sixers roster that has gone through a complete overhaul in the 2026 offseason. After seven seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers after going undrafted out of Kansas State, the Wichita, KS native is joining the Sixers and looking to make an impact alongside James and Co. He sat down with Sixers Wire and reflected on his journey to Philadelphia:Editor's note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.Q: How do you expect your style of play to fit next to a guy like James?Wade: I think my biggest impact on the game is on the defensive end, and just communicating, talking through switches and stuff like that is probably the best way I could fit in on that side. Then on the offensive end, just kind of space, give those guys space to do what theyve always done, and make open shots when the opportunity presents itself, but other than that, most of it is on the defensive end, but offensively, just give them space, and kind of read off what they do.Q: I know you grew up in Kansas, but I'm curious. How did the hoop dreams come to fruition for you?Wade: Man, it's a different kind of story, for sure. I grew up in Kansas, you know, small, small town. 1200 people in my town. My graduating class had 18. So, I didn't really, like nobody really played high major basketball out of my high school before. So, I didn't really know how far basketball was going to take me. I was just like, Man, I'm just going to keep playing until the wheels fall off. and luckily, the wheels are still on. I never really thought about being a professional basketball player was in my cards really until I got to college. Like, I really didn't know. That was never really like, for me, an attainable dream in my mind because I knew the statistics. I knew the percentages of people that come from anywhere and make the NBA is is very low so it was a dream of mine. I didn't think it was going to actually happen to me and then I go to K-State, and for my first year, I had a good year, but I still didn't really think about it. In my sophomore year, after my sophomore year, I was like, Man, maybe, maybe I can actually make this work. And that's kind of the first time I really-I don't know if it was me being naive or what, but, that was, I think I was like 20 years old when I figured out that maybe this basketball thing could make me a lot of money in my life. So, that was kind of the first time I thought that this basketball dream was going to really pan out, but other than that, before that, I was just playing to play. I was just whatever happens that day happens. I was just happy to be playing basketball.Q: Where did you learn to shoot the way you do then? Did you have a shooting coach or some type of trainer?Wade: No, I never had a trainer. I never had really likeI played for probably one of the best high school basketball coaches in Kansas, and he had us in the gym all the time. It was just me and my friends running around town all the time. Like, he always got us in the gym, little kids camps or fundamentals. I mean, I played with the same guys I graduated with high school. Same guys I won my sophomore year state championship with, and then the rest of my high school years were the same people I played my second grade basketball every year. Played with them all the way up. So, we were doing basketball camps a couple times the summer. We were always playing basketball. So, our fundamentals were good from the jump, and then also having my mom and dad, both athletes and played in college. My dad played football in college, but was a good basketball player. So, they taught me the fundamentals early, and they pushed me to be a competitor and a basketball player. So, I had good basics, good foundation from a basketball game from a young age, and that obviously helped me to now. That's where I kind of learned to shoot and play team basketball was with definitely in the camps and through my mom and dad. My sister beating me up all the time was also a big motivator in basketball games.Q: I remember you mentioning competition was important to you. Has that competitive level fueled you throughout your entire career getting to this point?Wade: Yeah, I think I wouldn't be at this point if I didn't have that kind of competitive fire. I just love to compete. Like, it was anything, you know? It's tough for me to play like a casual card game or board game. I can't do it. I cannot casually do. Like, I'm gonna really try to win every time. I think that's the kind of the fire. Like without that, I don't think I would've been at this point in my life, and it's not the best thing to have when you're not competing on the basketball floor, you know, when you're trying to play games with like your nephews and stuff, you know, get a little like, Oh, OK, we got to tone this down a little bit, but that competitive spirit is definitely what has pushed me this far. Like, by a long shot. I think that's the most important thing in my game.Q: A thing I really love about your game is really your defensive versatility. How important is your size and length and quickness really been on the defensive side of the floor?Wade: Yeah, I think it's big. Like, having good enough quickness and foot speed to stay in front of guards and also being big enough to guard forwards and some smaller centers is definitely a big help. Especially, you can switch everything, keep everything in front. You don't have to worry about trying to get 2-on-1 situations. Especially with the guys we got. I mean, we're all, you know, big, athletic, fast, strong, and that goes a long ways. But definitely the defensive versatility is the biggest thing, and I learned it from, you know, when I was a two-way my rookie year in Cleveland. They were like, Man, you got to show something different than everyone else. Everyone else is worried about the offensive end. I had a coach who worked with me, Chris Darnell. He was like, Man, just like the only thing that's going to separate you is your shooting and your defense. Like you got to go out there and just compete on the defensive end every possession and show them that you don't mind taking a little sacrifice on the offensive end if you can get out there and just battle on the defensive end. I took that to heart, and luckily I had the opportunity to show it a few times, and they believed in me over there. So that was awesome, but yeah, it was just defense is such a big thing I focus on the basketball side that it always goes back to my rookie year. Definitely, that's where, obviously, like I said, that's the biggest impact I have on the game. I take that to heart. Really go out there and just try to do my job.Q: You mentioned you were on a two-way after going undrafted at Kansas State. How did the opportunity come along with Cleveland?Wade: Yeah, it's different, man. So, I broke my foot my senior year of college, and so I missed the tournament. We got bounced first round, anyways, but I was then out for a couple weeks already, and so I wasn't playing. So I knew the draft probably wasn't gonnaI wasn't probably gonna get drafted just because I broke my foot twice in college, and so I was like, man, I don't know. You know, I'm going to go out there and try to do as many pre-draft workouts as I can. So the day I got cleared, I did a workout that day with a team, and that was not very fun, but I tried to push as many pre-draft workouts as I could. I didn't even actually have Cleveland as as a pre-draft workout until I went to Detroit two days before the draft, and I was supposed to fly home and be at home for the draft and all that stuff and kind of relax for a while, but then Cleveland called and wanted me in for a workout. So, I flew from Detroit to Cleveland. Well, my flight got canceled, so I flew in that next morning, the day before the draft. Got in, worked out there, had a great workout, flew home, and then the draft happened. I think they called me, like, very, very late, second round, and we're like, Yeah, we're offering you a full two-way. And so I was like, Best opportunity I had. So I took it and played really good. The G League, didn't get a lot of playing time during the year, and then when they were going to play a lot of the two ways, COVID happened and shut the season down. So, we didn't get to play, but they converted me still, and then that next year after that, I was on a non-guaranteed contract, but got a little opportunity. Had some injuries, unfortunately for the team, but luckily for me, I got to go out there and play, and show at least a few things that they liked, and they kept me around. So its been a pretty crazy journey.Q: Your playoff run with the Cavs. You had to guard some of the top players in the game from Cade Cunningham to Jalen Brunson to Scottie Barnes. What was that like and how important can that be in a playoff series?Wade: Man, it's so fun. I love those matchups. It's the playoffs. It's full speed, full throttle, whatever you want to say. It's almost like a different game. You go out there in the playoffs. It's a little more physical. Tempos a little faster. Intensity is way higher, and so, being able to go out and be in those environments and be an important part of the defense and have to guard most of the best players was, you know, it was very fun. It was exciting. Our defense, we switch a lot. So, it wasn't like I was just stuck on them the whole game, except for Toronto. The first three games, I was guarding BI (Brandon Ingram). I was face guarding him, and then I was chasing off everything. So, we didn't switch anything there, but then later on that series, I got moved to Scottie, and then it was just kind of a different scheme there. Then, we just switched everything, but man, starting on those guys, and being trusted by the team and the coaching staff to go out and do your job and have your hands full on defense, especially with those guys. The best in the game is, you know, it's tough, but it is so fun, man. Something I reallyI'm proud of. I definitely take that as serious as I can, but it is fun, man. You get to the playoffs; it's like a different atmosphere, different game, but being trusted to do that and guard the best players is also, it's a great feeling, and I appreciated it. Wish we could have kept going for a couple more weeks, but we had a good run.Q: What was the biggest lesson you took from that run to the Eastern Conference finals?Wade: Yeah, I think my biggest lesson through that was, man, when you when you have a chance to really like shut down a series, you got to take full advantage of it. We were up 2-0 against Toronto, and that series went to seven, and then we had to fight back against Detroit and take it to seven. When you play every other day for, I think it was like 38 days straight, by the time you get to those Eastern Conference finals, they've had a week off and they've been rested. You're tired. I mean, I think the biggest lesson is like, Man, you got to go out there and those games. That Game 3 and Game 4 are--they're going to be harder than any game you've played.' Like, those closeout games are so much harder, but you got to go out and battle because that next round, isI mean, it never stops going. It's every other day. You're flying after games to a new series. You're watching film on the flight, and then you're trying to watch film in the morning. You got to get rest. It's a monster, but biggest thing, man, is definitely when you have those chances to get rest, get opportunities, and do recoveries. Go in and do as much recovery as you can because man, those games are so physical, so taxing on your body. If you don't have time to rest and recover, it's going to really affect the way you play. I think we definitely a couple games let off the gas a little bit. Thought we had it, and it came back to bite us, bite us at the end, but that Knicks team is so good. With full rest, I'm not sure anyone could beat that team. Especially, the way that they're playing. So, in the end, I think the biggest thing, man, is just every game is do-or-die, no matter what the series is, and we let off the gas a little bit here and there, but overall, me was a great run. It was fun. Wish we could have got a few more days of rest before going to the last series, but we did that to ourselves. So, can't blame anybody but us, but yeah, I think that's the biggest lesson.Q: You played briefly with James Harden. Tyrese Maxey has always been vocal about saying James influences a lot he's done offensively. I know you guarded Tyrese a lot. Do you notice any similarities between Tyrese and James?Wade: I think there is similarities. I mean, they play different. Their styles are a little different, but I mean, James was so willing to get off the ball and make the right play every time last year. That was something I was like, Man, that's impressive. And, when you guard Tyreese, and when I had to guard him, we kind of trapped him off the ball screens. I mean, he had no problem getting off the ball and find the right guy. He made the right play every time, and then you get into his ISO world ishes so good. He's so fast, quick. I think that he has that same mentality that James has, we know in the ISO world that like it's is his time to shine. They're both unbelievably great at scoring in isolation, and so I think I don't know if James taught him any of that ISO stuff or if he just took the mentality that James had because man when I guarded him a couple years ago, and I was like, Man, in open space, he's so hard to stop him. He's so fast, quick. It's like, Man, I don't know how people do this without a little help side. But I don't know. Yeah, so I see it. I definitely saw it more when I'd say passing the ball. Like, him getting off. He's such a willing passer. Making the right play-like it really is impressive. Especially, for a guy that can score the way he scores. As good of an offensive player he is. He's just willing to just make the right play, get off the ball, get opportunities for his teammates. So, I think that's where I noticed like the similarities between those two.Q: This is a franchise that hasn't won a title since 1983. They haven't been past Round 2 since 2001. With you and all of the new additions, this is a brand new roster. What has to be done for you guys to get everything on the same page and get to where you want to go this year?Wade: It's always tough. Especially at the beginning. You bring all these new people in. It just takes a little time. A little time to mesh. A little time to understand each other's games, and like, what certain people like to do, how play defense, how communication-wise. We just got to get on the same page, but I think most of the new guys are vets. They've been through a lot of things, and seen a lot of basketball. So, I don't think the meshing is gonna take too long. It's a long season. I'm sure there'll be bumps and different things in the road all the way to the end, but I think overall, I mean, these guys are vets. Been through a lot, have different teammates, you know, been through it. So, I think it'll take a little time to get the mesh, but I think the more we play together, the more we are around each other. I think it'll kind of take care of itself and be a pretty good team before we know it.Sixers Wire: Dean, thank you so much for taking the time with me, man. I definitely appreciate you.Wade: Oh, yeah. Absolutely. No problem!This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Dean Wade reacts to LeBron James, reflects on journey to joining 76ers