The basketball world took notice after NBA great and analyst Dwyane Wade published a piece for The Athletic highlighting the three most influential leaders he played with – and notably, LeBron James was absent from the list.
Wade’s piece focused on figures tied closely to his Miami Heat roots, praising coach Pat Riley, center Shaquille O’Neal, and teammate Udonis Haslem, highlighting their leadership qualities that shaped him on and off the court.
About Riley, Wade stressed the coach’s calming influence during high-pressure moments and his unmatched attention to detail, which he has sought to emulate as a professional.
“Where Pat was great was his attention to detail. That’s something I try to pride myself on, even now,” Wade said. “A lot of times, as a player, your mind, your emotions, your anxiety are all over the place.
“You make a couple of mistakes, and you start overthinking. He was that calm factor. Every time I went over to him during a game, he laid his hands on me and just gave me a calm feeling and reset me.”
Discussing Shaq, Wade highlighted the mentorship role the dominant big man played during his early career, shaping his approach both on and off the court.
“He showed me the ropes,” Wade said. “He showed me how to be a superstar on the court and off the court. He even gave me the nickname ‘Flash’.
“He sat down and talked to me about authenticity and making sure that my DNA was in everything that I did. It changed the way I went into meetings, it changed the way I thought about my brand and myself.”
And finally, Wade also praised Haslem for his locker room influence and respect earned through hard work, highlighting that his leadership was selfless and consistent, even with superstar teammates.
“UD was never one of the top guys when it came to stardom, but he still had the loudest voice in the locker room,” Wade said. “When he talked, everyone listened because we knew it wasn’t coming from a selfish place at all.
“It was coming from a guy who would literally give everything in his body for you on whatever play. He would take fines for you. He was making the least amount of money as an undrafted guy, but he didn’t care.
“He made sure that the rules Pat Riley set down were followed by everyone in the locker room. Even when LeBron James and Chris Bosh came, nothing changed.”
History proves it’s nothing personal against LeBron
Wade’s omission of LeBron is not a slight and the pair are actually very good friends from their shared time in Florida with the Miami Heat.
In 2010, James joined forces with Wade and Chris Bosh to the Heat, forming a star trio that reached four consecutive NBA Finals and won two championships before James returned to Cleveland with the Cavaliers.
Even in their final on-court matchups, the respect was clear. In December 2018, following Wade’s last game against James at Staples Center, LeBron reflected on their shared success.
“I think me personally, I would have been very successful in this league without D-Wade,” James said. “But to accomplish what I really wanted to accomplish in this league, and that’s winning at the highest level, I needed him.
“And that’s when I made the jump, and I appreciate more than I can express in words what he did for me when I went down to Miami.
“You have to think about how I spent the first 25 years of my life in Akron, Ohio. I spent 18 years going through high school, and then my first seven years of my professional career I was still living in Akron, Ohio, so that’s all I knew.”
Wade’s reflections emphasize the distinction between personal respect and professional assessment of leadership. Though James was absent from his list, Wade has consistently praised the star, and their bond off the court remains strong.
As Wade continues life after the NBA, LeBron James continues with the Los Angeles Lakers, but their shared history is secure. Wade’s piece highlights the influence of Heat-era mentors and teammates while clarifying that excluding James is about leadership style, not friendship.
