Cole relishes playing with NBA’s best players

Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) hugs Norris Cole (30) as they walk to the bench during a timeout in the second half in Game 4 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Charlotte Bobcats in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 28, 2014. The Heat won 109-98, and swept the series. AP

Through his first five years in the NBA, Norris Cole has had the rare opportunity to play alongside two superstars.

First was when he teamed up with LeBron James during his first three and a half seasons in the league with the Miami Heat and the other is with Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans.

And for the Pelican’s 27-year-old guard, it has been a real treat sharing the court with the two studs.

“It was a great experience playing with both. They’re two different players and both of them are great in their own right. AD is a young up-and-coming player, while LeBron is an established superstar, the best player in the game,” Cole said.

Cole is in town for the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 National Training Camp this weekend, and in a short chat with the media on Wednesday at NBA Cafe Manila, he shared his experiences with the Heat and the Pelicans.

As a backup point guard for the Heat, he was part of the back-to-back championship teams in 2012 and 2013. Cole admits he had a great time being with veterans who were all focused on achieving the same goal.

“I love playing with the teammates that I have, but it’s also great playing with LeBron, D-Wade, Shane Battier, and all the players in the Heat,” he said. “We had a special bond there, but in this league, you enjoy every opportunity to play. For me, I enjoy every team I ever had. I’ve enjoyed my teammates because it’s a special game. You can’t take things for granted.”

Cole stint with the Heat ended in February of last year when he was traded to the Pelicans as his career took a different turn.

“I went from being the young guy to being one of the most experienced guys,” he said.

But being a part of a team full of veterans greatly helped him as he made his transition, and as one of the older guys in New Orleans, he did his best to impart the knowledge he gained back when he was still in Miami.

“I just wanted to promote good habits. You don’t win by accident. There’s a reason why you’re a winner and a champion in this league. You prepare yourself every day, you practice hard every day, you put in work every day so that when the time comes on the court, you could be special as a team,” he said.

Though the injury-riddled Pelicans failed to reach the NBA Playoffs this season, Cole did his best to keep the ship afloat, averaging 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.

Cole also helped his young New Orleans team to grow collectively.

“That’s what I try to promote being special every day, not just on certain games, putting in the time every day and doing the little things, taking care of your body, the details of the game that people might not think are important are what’s important when you talk about being in an elite level,” he said.