Over four seasons with four different clubs, do-it-all combo guard Wade Baldwin of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has proven to be one of the most dangerous players in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Since he became a full-timer after moving from Olympiacos Piraeus to FC Bayern Munich in the summer of 2020, continuing to Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and now Maccabi, just four other players have scored more points than Baldwin's 1,297 and just nine others have distributed more assists than his 369 over the last two-and-a-half seasons.
Baldwin's upward trajectory made him a centerpiece of Maccabi's rebuild last summer. He feels the setting is perfect for his goal of returning to the EuroLeague Playoffs, where he had led Bayern two years ago in a first for that club.
"It's amazing to be here: it's the place for me," Baldwin says of Maccabi. "It's one big team trying to accomplish the ultimate goal."
One key to making that goal achievable, Baldwin said, is the chance to play alongside another established star, Lorenzo Brown, in Maccabi's backcourt:
"Playing with another great guard here in Europe is essential. You look at some of these that are going far in the EuroLeague, the blueprint is there of having two playmakers that can really run your team."
Baldwin is well aware of how tight the standings are and how hard it is to make the playoffs, but he wouldn't have it any other way.
"Every night, it's a battle," he says. "My goal is to be in that top eight... And once that happens, a new season begins."