Golden Belt native and former Kansas State star Dean Wade is in his 8th year in the NBA, and has accomplished the rare feat of staying with one team that entire time. The St. John High School graduate has been a part of the Cleveland Cavaliers' rotation since 2019, and started at least 30 games this last three years, for an average of 20 minutes a game over his career.
This season was the most productive in the career of Wade, averaging more than 22 minutes a game, and setting career highs in rebounds and assists per game, with 4.2 and 1.5 respectively, along with 5.8 points per game, the second highest mark of his career.
Along with increased individual production, the Cavs posted a record of 52-30, their second best record in the time Wade has been with the team. Finishing with the best record in the East last season, the Cavs were a surprise early exit in the Conference Semi-Finals last season, but this year were able to overcome the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in seven games, with Wade averaging 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 points off the Cavaliers bench in nine games over the playoff run. It marks the first time since the 2017-2018 season that Cleveland has made the Conference Finals, the final season of LeBron James' tenure with the Cavs, when the team lost in the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors.
Wade is famous in the local area for leading the St. John Tigers to three straight state titles. He now attempts to bring home more hardware, to bring the Cavaliers their second NBA Championship.