MIAMI â€"
LeBron James remains a villain in Cleveland. But to two of the city's brightest young sports figures, he's a mentor.
As high school stars, Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson met James at his invitation-only camp. Ever since then, the two Cleveland Cavaliers rookies have kept in contact with James, looking at him as a source of advice.
It doesn't matter that James broke Cleveland's heart, leaving the Cavaliers to play for the Miami Heat. James' relationship with Irving and Thompson remains the same.
"I think besides what I do individually, I think that's just what I was born to do, and that's just try to give back," James said.
"I try to give back my knowledge of the game, give back what I've learned over the years to these younger guys coming into the league. I always have like an open phone invite. I've seen it all, everything. I don't have to break it down, I've seen it all."
That experience could be especially useful for Irving.
Like James in the 2003 NBA Draft, Cleveland chose Irving with the No. 1 pick in 2011. Also, much like James did, Irving has gotten his NBA career off to a fast start, averaging 17.4 points and 4.9 assists per game entering Tuesday's contest.
"He's not a rookie, really," James said. "His game is not a rookie-type game. He's always in control and he plays at his own tempo. It's great to see what he has been able to do just in his first year. But like I said, he doesn't carry himself or play like a rookie would play."
But there is at least one difference between James' rookie year and Irving's.
"He has no pressure," James said. "They're in kind of a rebuilding stage right now, as far as their team, and I don't think he has any pressure."
James-Cavs different this season
Last season, every time James went up against the Cavaliers, it was a big game. This year, it has a different feel.
"It's just another game," James said.
After facing Cleveland four times in his first season with the Heat, the excitement surrounding the matchup has died down. The only players left on the Cavaliers from James' time in Cleveland are Daniel Gibson, Antawn Jamison, Anthony Parker and Anderson Varejao.
"I'm sure it probably means something to [James]," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But we played them multiple times last year, and I really only noticed it that first trip to Cleveland. It was very emotional and it was an awesome environment to play in."
Wade still out
Dwyane Wade is making progress, but not enough to return to the court yet.
The Heat guard did not play against the Cavaliers on Tuesday because of a sprained right ankle. It marked the fifth consecutive game Wade has missed and the eighth of the season.
But Wade will travel with the team to Detroit for Wednesday's contest. Still, his status for that game is unknown.
"Everything is the same as last game," Spoelstra said. "He's day-to-day. He has been doing work, and we'll let you know as soon as he has taken the next step."
Wade did participate in parts of Tuesday morning's shootaround, which is something he had not been able to do since spraining his ankle.
The Heat entered Tuesday's matchup against the Cavaliers with a 6-1 record without Wade this season.
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