Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) shoots in front of Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Miami. AP
MANILA, Philippines–LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were back at the opposing sidelines, representing different teams on Christmas Thursday in Miami
Wade out-duelled James, with the Miami Heat guard scoring 31 points to the Cleveland Cavaliers forward’s 30 in a showdown — reminiscent of the two superstars’ previous meetings — before James left Cleveland to join forces with Wade in Miami in 2010.
James and Wade shared two championships together and four straight Finals appearances but their bond transcends beyond the basketball court and it showed in James’ return to Miami.
”We didn’t have a bad breakup,” Wade said after the game in a story on The Associated Press. ”We played against each other for seven years, man. The weirdness just wasn’t there. It wasn’t like we played against each other our whole career and the breakup happened. We played against each other for seven years, then with each other for a period of time, then he went back to the same situation and I’m in the same place.”
“We only play this game for so long,” said James, who got a warm welcome from the Heat crowd. “You’ve still got life afterwards. For us we’re going to compete, we’re going to go about our business and do what we need to do in our profession. You’ll never let friendship come in between that.”
The two shared hugs and laughs throughout the course of the Heat’s 101-91 win. After the game, James reminded everyone of his friendship with Wade on his Instagram account.
Earlier, James attended Wade’s wedding with actress Gabrielle Union last August a month after announcing his decision to return to Cleveland.