A championship never comes without hardships and sacrifices. When the Miami Heat was competing for the championship in 2012, DWade made the toughest decision for his best teammate. That decision helped the Heat clinch the title against the Thunder. Reflecting on that time, Wade acknowledged how difficult the decision was, and yet how necessary it turned out to be.

The 3x NBA champ opened up about this moment during a conversation with WNBA rookie Angel Reese on her podcast, Unapologetically Angel. “It was Wade County. Like, this is my show. And I had to kind of give up my show to, you know, I mean, he was going to take it. He’s Bron, so he took it,” Wade said on the podcast. 

The 3x champion spent over a decade in Miami before LeBron James stepped in. “I was born and raised in Chicago, but this is where I grew up,” Wade had admitted previously, noting that the fans there grew up with him. So watching Bron take over his county was a tough sight for Wade.

He added, “But it was hard to, like, get off the ball and get off of what I was comfortable with,” in conversation with Reese. After the 2006 MVP returned from an injury, a noticeable shift occurred in the Heat’s game. And he did it intentionally. He didn’t lose his edge. “The Flash” was still delivering over 20 points and playing his best. 

However, the change was in how James had taken control of the game. The Lakers star also won MVP in 2012. With Chris Bosh on the team, they formed one of the most formidable Big Three battles against the San Antonio Spurs to win the title in 2013, with James winning the MVP honor once again.

Dwyane Wade explained that he was able to take a step back and support his teammate for one reason. On the podcast, the 3x NBA All-Star revealed that he had previously played as a role player, likely during high school. So, he simply tapped back into that same energy and role. He did it all for one reason, to win a championship.

“I actually was a role player growing up. So I just had to tap back into the bag that I had when I was a kid. I used to just pick up 94 feet and learn how to back cut and learn how to do these things that I learned, the fundamentals of the game, to be great,” Wade explained to the rookie.

Dwyane Wade was willing to sacrifice this for one thing 

For many, the Miami Heat legend’s sacrifice seemed odd since it took the spotlight away from him. But it didn’t. At some point, he realized their goal was to win a championship title rather than amass individual accolades.

At that time, for the Miami Heat, his sacrifice was the only thing that could have given the franchise another title to boast about. Wade watched as James put on an unbelievable performance, leading the team while he was off the court. The Heat legend then decided it was time to follow James’ lead. 

“I wanted to give him the opportunity where he didn’t have to think about that. It’s kind of like I told him, ‘Listen, I’ll find my way. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be there. But you go out and be the player that we want you to be,” Wade told ESPN.

It’s not often that you see players willingly take a step back to support both their teammates and the team. These subtle things made a change for the team and Wade still remains the golden boy for Miami. Or face of the franchise as coach Pat Riley attests, becoming the first player from Miami Heat to have statue. 

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.