“That Boy Good,” said Dwyane Wade about LeBron James once. When it comes to NBA history, few duos have achieved what these two accomplished during their time together. From back-to-back championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013 to redefining the concept of a “superteam,” their partnership was one for the ages. But recently, the Miami Heat veteran has peeled back the layers of his competitive spirit, revealing that there was a time when he wanted nothing more than to dethrone the King.

In a recent episode of the OG Podcast, Wade admitted that if he had joined the Chicago Bulls in 2010 during his free agency, it was all about shadowing LeBron. “I don’t know the truth of the conversation of what I’m not previewed to. But in my mind, I was like, if I’m going to go Chicago it can be me and LeBron, I gotta beat LeBron there. They’re gonna take him before they take me,” said Wade during the podcast.

To understand why the Chicago Bulls, one of the league’s most storied franchises, would target LeBron James over Dwyane Wade, now, one must look at the numbers by the age of 30. With averages of 27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game in his first seven years, James was a 2x MVP (2009, 2010) and made 2 NBA first-team appearances.

At the same time, Dwyane Wade was no slouch as he had been the 2006 NBA Finals MVP, a 6x All-Star, and averaged 25.4 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.9 rebounds up to that point. But, in many front offices, LeBron’s larger frame, durability, and ability to carry a franchise bumped him slightly ahead of Wade. You would wonder why Wade mentioned the Bulls here. There’s a whole other reason for it.

In the summer of 2010, the NBA fans enjoyed the rumors of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh teaming up for the Chicago Bulls. They had young Derrick Rose, the Rookie of the Year, and Joakim Noah on the defensive end. Pairing these three superstars with Chicago’s core was tantalizing.

“If the Bulls were able to trade Luol Deng to the Clippers, which they had talks about doing, that Big 3 would’ve been in Chicago. Trust me on that one,” said KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

However, the plan never materialized. Instead, Wade, LeBron, and Bosh chose Miami, where they built one of the most iconic dynasties in NBA history. Together, they reached four straight NBA Finals and won two championships.

The twist of fate would have Wade joining his hometown Chicago Bulls in 2016 but in very different circumstances Wade was 34 years old and no longer the explosive scorer he was, but he still contributed plenty. He averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game over the 2016-17 season. His stay in Chicago wasn’t long, but it was a dream come true to play in the home team he idolized since his youth.

Wade’s comments on the OG Podcast are a testament to the competitive fire that fueled his Hall of Fame career. Even as he shared unforgettable triumphs alongside LeBron, there was always a part of him that wanted to beat the very best—including his closest friends. However, did you know the reason behind ‘The Flash’s’ move to the Windy City?

Reasons why Dwyane Wade moved to the Chicago Bulls

Wade’s connection to Chicago runs deep. Born and raised in the Windy City, Wade grew up idolizing Michael Jordan, the legendary Chicago Bulls icon who shaped his basketball aspirations. While joining the Bulls in 2016 fulfilled a childhood dream, Wade’s decision to leave the Miami Heat wasn’t driven by nostalgia.

In the same podcast, Wade revealed that he was looking for a change after James left the Heat because he had no hope of winning with the organization.

“It was a time where, one, man, we had already won, we had already experienced what that was and then we went through losing and rebuilding and I was tired of that. 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 to get to that level. Not that they weren’t good players, I just didn’t think it was enough,” added Wade during the podcast.

However, there was one more very important reason for which Wade had taken the ultimate decision to go to the Bulls. The former shooting guard wasn’t given a proper contract even after playing for the organization for 13 years whereas Chris Bosh’s contract was maxed out by the organization.

“At the end of the day, I talked to those guys and I told them, ‘It’s free agency. I understand y’all have a job to do, and I have a job to do as well I let it be known I was going to be a free agent and I wasn’t waiting by the phone for them to call me,” said Wade in an interview with Vincent Goodwill.

While his time in Chicago was short-lived, it symbolized Wade’s determination to stand firm in his worth while reconnecting with his roots. However, it is refreshing to see how even despite wishing to play alongside Bron, Wade maintained his competitive nature.