Long before Dwyane Wade and LeBron James were best friends, they had an awkward first encounter during their 2003 pre-draft event.
Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have been best friends for almost two whole decades now. Both the two superstars’ love for the game, dedication and game-style is one of the best and most respected. Their impressively stacked resumes tell us why the two are among the best ever to play the game.
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LBJ and DWade entered the league at the same time, being the 1st and the 5th pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. Ever since the two had the front row seats of witnessing each other grow into the legends they are now today. From being rivals on the court to becoming teammates and eventually brothers for life, Wade and James have had a great relationship with each other.
Despite the “peanut butter and jelly” relationship the two share, they had a very awkward first encounter. Wade revealed an anecdote from back in 2003 when the two young boys were in a pre-draft event. He told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, about his and LeBron’s first-ever conversation. He narrated:
“I’ve been there for a long time,” Wade said to James and Rachel Nichols of ESPN in 2017. “You could’ve come in and [been] like ‘Nah, let D. Wade go first. He has been here longer.’ You just came in like ‘I’m the number one pick. This is my draft. Move out the way.’”
He stated how despite the awkward meeting, it actually helped them with their relationship:
“It was just like an instant kind of, you’ve got a connection with somebody.”
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Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have a tight friendship, developed over 18 years
Over the course of their careers, the two saw their individual highs and lows. But, back in 2010, LBJ and Wade along with Hall-Of-Famer Chris Bosh decided to join forces and team up at the Miami Heat. It was during that period in their careers that helped their relationship grow.
Despite seeing on the court success, the two got even closer off the court. They managed to win back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. Although, Wade stated how overcoming the loss against the Mavericks in 2011, got them closer. Wade revealed:
“When we lost in the Finals in that first year, to be in those moments and be very vulnerable in those moments and not care that the other person sees you in that space — that helps the relationship grow.”
He also spoke about how James was there for him when he was going through an ugly divorce:
“(Having LeBron as his friend) definitely was huge for me when I was going through an ugly divorce that I went through, and an ugly custody battle with the kids, to know that, ‘Hey deal with what you gotta deal with; We got you on this end.”
We have been lucky enough to witness these two have some great battles against each other as well as teaming up and beating other teams. The love, mutual respect and camaraderie the two have for each other is commendable and shows us that how professional athletes too, can have a relationship off the court as well.
