March 1st 2024.
In a recent episode of Dwyane Wade's podcast, The Why, a surprising revelation was made about the infamous Miami Heat's Big Three. Turns out, if it weren't for a simple uniform number, there could have been a Big Four instead. The number in question? Three. This number played a major role in Golden State Warriors' point guard Chris Paul not joining the star-studded trio of Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh during their reign of two NBA championships.
During the podcast, Wade and Paul discussed the reason behind Paul never donning the coveted Miami Heat uniform, despite President Pat Riley being ready to make a trade for him. It all boiled down to both players having a strong attachment to the number three. Wade had been wearing it throughout his time with the Heat, while Paul had chosen it since his very first NBA game, and continues to wear it to this day. The two of them had talked about all the possibilities of playing together, from handling the ball to incorporating each other's strengths on the court.
However, as fate would have it, a simple question from Paul's brother, CJ, shattered all their plans. He asked them who would be wearing the number three if Paul were to join the Heat. This question had never even crossed the minds of the two guards. Being equally adamant about keeping their beloved number, the trade fell through, and Paul never got the chance to join forces with his "Banana Boat Crew" brothers.
Fast forward to present day, and we see Paul and LeBron still dominating the court, while Wade and Bosh have retired. It's a bittersweet reminder of what could have been, had it not been for a tiny number causing such a big obstacle. Paul remains the only member of the "Banana Boat Crew" who never got the chance to play alongside LeBron. A missed opportunity that will forever be a topic of discussion among basketball fans.
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