LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have a special bond that goes beyond basketball. They entered the league together in 2003 as part of the same draft class, along with Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. They became rivals and friends, facing each other in many epic battles on the court.
They became teammates and champions, joining forces in Miami to form the Big Three with Bosh and winning two titles in four straight Finals appearances. They remained close friends and brothers, supporting each other through the highs and lows of their careers.
So when Wade was announced as one of the 12 finalists for the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame class on Friday, James was quick to congratulate his brother and praise his accomplishments. He also made sure to acknowledge some of the other finalists who he has played with or against, such as Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, and Pau Gasol.
Congratulations my brother!!! YESSIR!!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 https://t.co/1BHz7rs6SF
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 1, 2023
James took to Twitter to express his excitement for Wade, who is a lock to make it to the Hall of Fame. He wrote: “Congrats to my brother YESSIR!!!!” He also showed love to Wade, Nowitzki, and Popovich on his Instagram stories, posting photos and videos of them together.
How many NBA titles did Dwyane Wade win during his career?
James has always admired Wade, who retired in 2019 after a brilliant 16-year career. Wade is one of the greatest shooting guards of all time, with a resume that speaks for itself. He has three NBA titles, one of which he won as the Finals MVP in 2006 when he averaged 34.7 points per game and led the Heat to a comeback win over the Dallas Mavericks.
He has a scoring title that he earned in 2009 when he averaged 30.2 points per game. He has 13 All-Star selections, including one All-Star MVP award in 2010. He has eight All-NBA honors, including two first-team nods. He has three All-Defensive nods, showing his prowess on both ends of the floor.
He has an Olympic gold medal that he won in 2008 with Team USA in Beijing. He has a spot on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team that was announced earlier this season. And he has countless records and accolades that cement his legacy as one of the best to ever play the game.
James and Wade have competed against each other in many memorable games, including the 2006 NBA Finals when Wade led the Heat to a comeback win over James’ Cavaliers. They have also teamed up to form one of the most dominant duos in NBA history, winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 with the Heat. They have also represented Team USA together in two Olympics, winning gold in 2008 and bronze in 2004.
Wade will likely be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame when the announcement is made on April 1 during the weekend of the 2023 Final Four.