I wasn’t really sure what to expect from my interview with Wise LeBron, probably best known these days for his role in LeBron James’ Nike ads of the past three years.
However, I needed to do a serious editorial on someone who had retired from an actual sport, and my giving up badminton due to having torn my rotator cuff (while absolutely destroying my 85-year-old grandmother on July 4, by the way) didn’t seem terribly interesting—even to me.
While most NBA fans will remember that Wise posted a quadruple-double in a high school state championship game—he tallied 35 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists…and 12 blocks—many don’t realize that Wise also dazzled ABA fans as a 50-something two-guard for the Kentucky Colonels from 1968-1976.
To this day, Wise is the only AARP member to compete at such a high level of basketball, for such a long period of time.
We met at the home of LeBron James, who was gracious enough to allow me and “Pops” to chat while he mini-camps in Las Vegas in preparation for the Olympics.
GA: Thanks for meeting me today, Wise.
WL: No problem. LeBron’s out there in Las Vegas, so I don’t have nothin' goin' on.
GA: Let’s just hope his game doesn’t stay in Vegas, right?
WL: What in h-e-double-hockey-sticks are you talkin’ about, boy?
GA: Uh…forget it. So I’m doing this article about retirement and when someone should retire…
WL: Son, you don’t never retire! Never! I’m just as good in my 80s as I was in my 50s.
GA: Now, Wise, I think we all remember that dunk you clanged in that ad a couple of years ago…
We're going to send you the most entertaining Cleveland Cavaliers articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
12 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete