LeBron James never hid his desire to have UConn point guard Shabazz Napier join the Heat.
Except for a three-peat, so far what LeBron wants, LeBron usually gets.
Napier, who was a member of two NCAA championships with the Huskies — as a freshman and as a senior — went to the Hornets with the 24th pick Thursday in the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.
But his tenure as a Hornet was about as long as a caffeinated kindergartener’s attention span. Napier was dealt to the Heat for the 26th and 55th picks plus a future second rounder.
And LeBron, whose impending free agency is one of the summer’s major NBA storylines, quickly responded on Twitter:
Sort of neat to get drafted and have the planet’s reigning best player in your corner. Even better if you have something to do with keeping James in Miami.
“I don’t know if I’m bringing him back,” said Napier, a scoring 6-foot-1 point guard (18.0 ppg as a senior) and an exceptional pick and roll player. “I would love it. Me and LeBron’s relationship, he’s a great guy.”
When Napier heard of James’ Tweet, he was floored.
“It’s just something special to know that one of the best players in the world thinks about you and appreciates your talent,” Napier said. “That’s something that I’m so humble for.”
The Miami point guard situation was a mess in the Finals against the Spurs. Mario Chalmers, a starter on two Heat title teams, was benched for Game 5, and reserve Norris Cole hardly distinguished himself.
And Thursday, Napier was the fourth point guard selected. Yeah, he noticed.
“The chip never leaves my shoulder,” Napier said. “It will never leave my shoulder. That’s what makes me who I am. And I was saying that not to belittle any other point guards. There’s a reason why they’re here. But I was just saying that because that’s who I am.”
Napier also is a guy who kept a longtime promise to his mother, Carmen Velasquez, to become the first family member to graduate. Napier’s story began in the Boston’s Charlestown and continued through hardships. Then came two NCAA titles (2011 and 2014). And then a ringing endorsement by King James.
“For me, walking across the stage for my graduation is more important than winning a national championship. That kind of put the icing on the cake for me. To have my degree is something I always worked to,” Napier said. “What I was always told was basketball can bring you many places, which is true, and basketball can keep you running and keep you going but you’re probably only going to play competitive basketball until you’re 40. My mother always told me education is going to stay with you forever no matter what happens.”