LeBron James’ decision to join the Miami Heat in 2010 had a silver lining.
When the Miami Heat formed the Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, fans instantly hated the new super team. James’ arrival from the Cleveland Cavaliers was the primary driving factor for most fans’ hatred.
After all, no one expected James to leave the Cavs. Despite winning two NBA titles in four years, many still hold LBJ’s move to the Heat as one of the weakest moves by a superstar. However, the infamous decision had a silver lining involving Dwyane Wade, who had a new statue unveiled at the end of last month.
Wade is considered one of the best players to ever wear the Heat jersey. He was part of the highly decorated 2003 NBA draft class. Moreover, D-Wade brought a title to Miami in his third season. Although Wade ended up playing 15 seasons with the Heat, the stint could have been cut short in 2010.
The NBA Hall of Famer recently revealed if it weren’t for James’ decision to join forces, his one foot was outside the door in 2010. Wade explained how LeBron stopped the process in The OGs Show.
“I was actually leaving Miami at that time. I didn’t think that nobody out there that we could get was going to help us get to that level.”
“But I got that call man. I got a call from number 6.”
At the time, the Eastern Conference was dominated by the Boston Celtics. They had the trio of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett. It was evident that the Wade’s Heat had no answer for the Boston’s super team.
Wade also revealed that he had made up his mind about heading to the Chicago Bulls, where a young Derrick Rose was flourishing. But James not only stopped Wade, but he also gave him confidence about extending his tenure with the Heat.
Let’s be real. Even today, Wade holds a high place in the Miami community. After all, he helped the franchise win three NBA Championships.
But if he had left the team in 2010 and joined a rival in the East, like the Bulls, it could have tarnished his legacy. At the end of the day, James’ move to the Heat had an unheard positive impact on the organization.
There is still one silver lining if Wade had departed Miami. He may have never gotten a bronze statue outside the team’s arena. While it was supposed to pay respect to Wade, the statue’s unique design made it a laughing stock on social media.
Related Posts
