"LeBron was fortunate enough" - Hall of Famer highlights Dwyane Wade's impact on LeBron James' career
Four-time NBA champion LeBron James is widely regarded as the greatest player of his era. However, he likely couldn't have gotten to where he is if he hadn't played next to other great players like Dwyane Wade. At least that's what former NBA Champion Rick Barry said in his interview with Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson.
"Scoop B" asked Barry if basketball fans would be more appreciative of Wade's contributions to the sport later on. Barry agreed that the three-time Miami Heat champion is one of the greatest shooting guards to step foot on the hardwood.
He attributed part of LeBron's success to his time together with Wade:
"LeBron wouldn't have had the success that he had without Dwyane Wade," Barry said. "You don't win championships by yourself, it's a team. You have to have other people and LeBron was fortunate enough to have a great player in Dwyane Wade."
Rick Barry played professional basketball from 1965 to 1980 for both the NBA and ABA. He made eight All-Star teams in the NBA and four in the ABA. He's also a champion in both leagues, winning the 1969 ABA title and the 1975 NBA title.
Barry was a part of the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary teams and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.
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Dwyane Wade shares how LeBron James stopped him from joining the Chicago Bulls
After winning the NBA title in 2006, the Miami Heat struggled to find the same level of success. They were swept by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2007 Playoffs. Won only 15 games in the 2007-08 season and were eliminated in the first round in the '09 and '10 postseasons.
The Heat's struggles led Dwyane Wade to consider moving to a different team. Wade shared on "The OGs" show hosted by Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller that he almost left the Heat in favor of the Bulls in the summer of 2010.
However, LeBron James, who was also a free agent in 2010, was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to Wade, he got a call from LeBron and that was all it took for him to remain with the Heat.
LeBron and Wade formed a big three along with All-Star forward Chris Bosh. The three of them would go on to dominate the Eastern Conference for four straight seasons.
They made the finals every year from 2010-2014 and while their run together is bookended by two Finals losses, they still ended up winning two titles together.
LeBron James returned to Cleveland for the 2015-16 season. As for Wade, he suited up for the Bulls in 2016-17.