Which NBA players make up the Banana Boat Crew? Here are all the details
The NBA is a highly competitive league, but that doesn't mean players can't be friends. We've seen a lot of friendship in the league, whether players are teammates or rivals. "The Banana Boat Crew," which includes LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony, is a prime example.
The group earned the monicker thanks to the infamous picture of James, Wade, and Paul riding a banana boat. Surprisingly, Anthony wasn't in the picture, however, according to Sportscasting, he was with the crew on the very same vacation.
On Matt Barnes' "All The Smoke" podcast, Carmelo Anthony hilariously revealed why he wasn't in the picture. When the former NBA star asked Anthony why he wasn't in the photo, he opened up.
“I wasn’t on that f***ing banana boat, man,” Anthony said. "I came late to the vacation. So, as I’m on a tender, going to the yacht, I see them on the banana boat. I’m thinking to myself like, ‘What the f**k are they doing?’ I ain’t ever getting on no s**t like that.”
Looking at the Banana Boat Crew's NBA Careers
When you look at who the members of the banana boat crew are, you'll automatically think of greatness. These are some of the top NBA legends of all time and are guaranteed future Hall of Famers.
Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade, the first to retire from the crew at the age of 37, had an amazing career, winning three championships in total. One was with NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, while the other two were with his best friend LeBron James. Wade averaged 22.0 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in his career.
LeBron James
LeBron James is currently playing with the LA Lakers and is on the verge of surpassing the all-time points record held by Kareen Abdul-Jabbar. As of the time of this writing, James is 37 years old and is showing no signs of slowing down physically.
James has won four championships so far with the Miami Heat(2012,2013), Cleveland Cavaliers(2016), and LA Lakers(2020). This man has also been an NBA MVP on four different occasions. James is averaging 27.1 points, 7.4 assists, and 7.5 rebounds in his career as of October 23, 2022.
Chris Paul
Chris Paul is also a decorated All-Star who nearly won his first ring back in the 2021 NBA Finals. Currently playing for the Phoenix Suns, he has always been one of the league's top point guards no matter which team he plays for. He was given the nickname of "Point God" because of his brilliant basketball IQ and capability to take charge of the court as the floor general.
As on October 23, 2022, Chris Paul has averaged 18.1 points, 9.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in his career. He's yet to win the coveted championship, however, if his Suns team can manage to make it back to the finals, he could finally realize every player's dream.
Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony, on the other hand, is another decorated NBA legend who is currently a free agent in the league. He last played for the LA Lakers alongside his brother LeBron James as a role player for the team and hasn't returned to his All-Star form since his departure from the New York Knicks.
As of the moment, Anthony is averaging 22.5 points, 2.7 assists, and 6.2 rebounds in his career. Like Chris Paul, Melo still hasn't won a ring in his career. He was hoping to win one during his time in LA, however, that didn't turn out so well for him, especially after the Lakers flopped their season.