“The Miami Heat floor is great,” said Dwyane Wade once. After the recent statue unveiling, there’s no doubt that Miami regards Wade as one of its legendary players. But what if I told you that something else is as legendary as the Marquette alum? Yes, it’s the camaraderie between him and LeBron James that helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals every year, clinching back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. However even after having such a legendary run, ‘The Flash’ has recently opened up on the decision that he took during his last years with Miami.

In a revealing episode of the OG podcast, Wade recently talked about a critical juncture in his career when he contemplated leaving Miami, the franchise that had been his home since being drafted in 2003.

“It was a time when, one, we had already won, we had already experienced what that was and then we went through losing, then rebuilding, and I was tired of that. I was actually leaving Miami at that time. I didn’t think nobody out there that we could get was going to help get to that level. Not that they weren’t good players, I just didn’t think it was enough,” said Wade during the podcast.

Wade’s journey with the Heat began when he was selected as the fifth pick in the legendary 2003 NBA Draft, the same draft that saw LeBron James go first overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers. While both players carved out their individual paths initially, their trajectories would eventually meet in Miami in 2010.

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James’ friendship wasn’t just a media storyline, it honestly and probably actually was the catalyst for the Miami Heat’s success of that era. For instance, take Game six of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics as an example now. James scored 45 and grabbed 15 rebounds and Wade, in one of the most memorable performances of his career, scored 17 points.

“We definitely were a part of shifting the culture. I don’t want to say changing it, we shifted it a little bit. Even from the start with us, being so close, going out to eat, going to movies, etc., then go out and play each other the next night. People didn’t understand that at first. But we shifted the culture of how you can still compete, you can still be great and push each other. It’s not for everyone,” said Wade about playing alongside James in an interview. (via. ESPN)

Their partnership delivered four consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2011 to 2014 and two championships (2012, 2013). Everything changed when James returned to his old team to Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 season. With the King not by his side, Wade could not feel the same way with the Heat and eventually, he opted to play for the Chicago Bulls in 2016 after dropping just 19 ppg in the previous season.

“Give credit to LeBron. He was at a period in his career where he started seeing, he wanted to see something different for himself,” said Wade about James during the podcast. In 2016, Wade finally left Miami to return to his home in Chicago. But after plying his trade with the Bulls for a year and then in Cleveland, the 3x NBA champ found himself back in the familiar territory of the Heat and eventually retired in 2019 as a legend for the franchise.

The Flash and King James didn’t just win games; they inspired a generation of players and fans to believe in the power of camaraderie, sacrifice, and shared ambition. However, not winning wasn’t the only reason why Wade left Miami.

Another reason why Dwyane Wade left the Miami Heat

Ever since his selection to Miami as a fifth-overall pick in 2003, Wade proved right from the jump he was more than just a talented rookie. He led the Heat to their first NBA title in 2006 and was named Finals MVP. The face of the franchise for many years, Wade signed multiple deals, keeping him in Miami, including a six-year, $107 million in 2010.

However, things started changing after James left the organization in 2014. Wade repeatedly said during an interview that he sacrificed money for the team’s success.

“You do things because you want to do them. All those things I did to stay in Miami was because I wanted to do them … When I made the sacrifice, when I could’ve gotten $127 million and I took $110 million to make sure LeBron and Chris (come) but I also have UD (Udonis Haslem) stay, those were things I wanted to do. I didn’t want to be in Miami and enjoy the success and not have UD there,” said Wade in an interview with Vincent Goodwill.

Moreover, another reason was that the then Heat President Pat Riley had increased Chris Bosh’s contract value but didn’t pay heed to him. “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 during the same interview.

Reflecting on the decision, it can be speculated that Wade solely took it for respect and not money—a reminder that even legends crave recognition for their sacrifices and contributions.