Norris Cole has yet to play his first NBA game, but he already has been summoned by The King. For the Miami Heat first-round draft pick, that, alone, has made this summer a success.
Despite playing four years at Cleveland State, the speedy point guard said he had never met or spoken with LeBron James until receiving a phone call last week. It was James, extending an invitation to work out if Cole would make the short trip from Cleveland to Akron, James' hometown.
"He welcomed me to the family, the Miami Heat family," Cole said Wednesday. "He found out I was in the area. He asked if I wanted to come work out. He said I could come work out any time he's in the area, and I said, 'OK,' and I took advantage of it."
Together, the two ran drills, with James filling in Cole on the Heat' approach. Until that session, Cole said he had not met another member of the team since he was drafted in June.
"It was good just to see how he worked out, how serious he takes the game," Cole said. "Reaching out, it shows how sincere of a person he is, of a teammate he is."
Cole then met a second potential Heat teammate Tuesday, when he played alongside Heat free-agent point guard Mario Chalmers in a pro-am game in Indianapolis.
"It was great meeting him, it was my first time meeting him," Cole said. "We got along real well, made some good plays together out there on the court."
That session also put Cole on the court with Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson, Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon and Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward. He plans to again play with that group Thursday.
Other than that, Cole said the only Heat player who has contacted him since the draft was free-agent forward James Jones, the Heat's union representative, who texted.
Should the lockout continue, Cole said he would be open to joining the Indiana pro-am team for a Sept. 24 exhibition against a visiting Washington-based Goodman League team that features Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant and Washington Wizards guard John Wall.
Otherwise, Cole said he likely would bypass overseas options during the lockout, but would travel to South Florida should Heat players organize their own workouts.
"I always try to keep myself in decent condition," he said, "but having never played in an NBA game, I don't know what it feels like to be in NBA shape."
I feel good about this kid. Seems focused. Hopefully Bron gives him some of those magic beans that made him and Wade grow strong in the first couple seasons.
If he can develop some chemistry with the rest of the guys before the season starts, all the better. He really needs to work on his 3pt stroke. His defense is supposed to be on-point already. PEACE.
