Twelve years ago, LeBron James decided to leave the Miami Heat for the Cleveland Cavaliers, which made a lot of headlines. However, the Heat legend, Dwyane Wade, recently mentioned why the move was a much-needed one for James. 

James went to Miami in 2010 and dominated the league for four straight seasons. During that stretch, the trio of Chris Bosh, Wade, and James went to the NBA Finals in all four seasons. They won two NBA Finals and lost two, in years one and four. The Heat remain one of the greatest teams ever assembled in basketball. 

Reflecting on their time together during a Complex podcast episode, Wade said, “I never even thought that me and LeBron would be teammates. First of all, it was never a dream of mine. I loved when we played against each other. We went at each other. When we got an opportunity to do that, it was special.”

Shortly after losing the 2014 NBA Finals series to the San Antonio Spurs, James announced during the offseason that he was coming back to Cleveland. But Wade said that James’ decision did not hurt or surprise him, because he knew that James ultimately wanted to win a title for the team linked to his native city: the Cavaliers. 

“When he was ready to go back home, he got my blessings 100%. He needed to go back home to win a championship for his city. A part of his legacy, he needed that. It wouldn’t have been enough just winning in Miami,” the three-time NBA champion added.

It was from James' time in Miami that his name started to be included in the GOAT debate. Not just because he was winning titles, but because the world saw what peak LeBron James looked like.

But James’ decision had an impact outside the basketball court. It had a big contribution to player empowerment, eventually balancing the power equation between franchises and their best players. 

Dwyane Wade reflects on the four years of the Big 3 in Miami

When James infamously gave goosebumps to the Miami fans, saying the Big 3 would win “not one, not two…not seven,” NBA championships, he should have been a little bit more careful in hyping the hopes of those fans. Maybe the trio would have won more titles, but the band broke up just after four years. 

According to Dwyane Wade, the tiredness of consistently playing in the Finals was taking a big toll on their bodies, and the breakup proved to be a good decision.

“We came together to win rings. Our goal at that time, sitting in that room, we wanted to play together for a long time,” Wade said. “You know, after 4 years going to the finals each year, the taxing of our body, mentally what we was dealing with every day. I think for everybody, when we broke up, it was kind of a breath of fresh air.”

After years, despite not fulfilling the promise of winning over seven rings, Wade said that he was satisfied with the success the Big 3 had in Miami.

“We won 2 rings in 3 years once we got that first one. So many people who can’t say they won one… We completed our goal by winning multiple championships,” the Heat legend concluded.

James came back to Cleveland in 2015 and took the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, but lost to the Warriors. He carried the Cavs to the Finals next year and completed the greatest Finals victory in the NBA.

So, how do you think James' legacy would have been affected if he hadn't left the Heat for the Cavaliers?

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Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Souvik Roy