Dwyane Wade Openly Recruits Close Friend LeBron James to Play Last 2 Years with His Jazz

Former teammates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are on different paths, with the latter now enjoying retirement as a team owner.

Dwyane Wade Openly Recruits Close Friend LeBron James to Play Last 2 Years with His Jazz

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Dwyane Wade invites LeBron James to join the Utah Jazz for the final two years of his career.
  • Wade believes LeBron can play for two more years, depending on the outcome of the current season.
  • Richard Jefferson defends LeBron against critics, emphasizing his focus on winning over chasing statistical records.

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James came into the league four draft picks apart, and have since been close friends, and also won two championships together.

That draft is touted as possibly one of the greatest of all time, from which three players, including the Miami Heat great, are already Hall of Famers, and James will join them on the first chance he gets.

But Wade retired seven years ago and is now a broadcaster for NBA on Prime, as well as a minority owner of the Chicago Sky and the Utah Jazz.

The ‘Flash,’ as he was nicknamed by his former teammate Shaquille O’Neal, was on the latter’s podcast, The Big Podcast with Shaq, where they got around to talking about LeBron James‘ future.

I think it depends on what happens this year… I think he can play two more (years). I got a team where I would like him to go if he wants to play for two more.

Dwyane Wade said

It seems the three-time champion was openly sending an invite to his close friend to join the team he co-owns. Even though it might be a pipe dream to get the all-time leading scorer to wear a Utah Jazz jersey, Wade was at least trying to give his team a mention.

Other than the minor joke, the former guard reiterated that LeBron James could play another two years if he wants. But a lot of it has to do with how this 2025-26 season ends.

LeBron James’ former teammate defends allegations of stat-padding

With every passing game, LeBron James is either extending the records he already has etched in his name or adding more. In their loss to the Denver Nuggets, the superstar surpassed the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in field goals made.

LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on this play
LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on this play (Image via NBA/X)

However, many of his critics believe that the Akron native has been steadily pacing himself throughout his career so that he could have the statistical accolades to enhance his GOAT status.

You can’t chase 22 years of 25 points a game, you can’t chase that. You can’t be like, you know what, ‘I’ve always wanted to be faster than Usain Bolt’. Certain things you just can’t chase. You’ve got to have the ability to do things.

Richard Jefferson said on the Road Trippin’ Show

James’ former championship-winning teammate made it clear that the Lakers superstar plays to win the game, and that it is impossible to chase a statistical goal in sports, especially if the said athlete is not focused on winning.

Richard Jefferson then went on to say that he was happy the King’s 10-point streak broke when James passed the ball for the winning shot. The now ESPN analyst believes that James could have kept his streak alive if he wanted to. But chose the team’s goal over his personal goal.

Dwyane Wade justifies his bizarre Heat statue

Whenever LeBron James retires, many believe he will get at least a statue at the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat. But the first player to get a statue at the latter franchise was Dwyane Wade.

However, that statue came under a lot of criticism for the way his face was depicted. Many have labeled it as the worst in sports, with Charles Barkley going the extra mile and suggesting that the franchise should take it down.

Mine is different. Mine is not an action… Go look at Jordan’s face and tell me that looks like Michael Jordan.

Dwyane Wade said

The 13-time All-Star revealed that from the clay process to when it was formulated in bronze, the statue changed quite a bit. That is why he does not blame the creators, knowing how accurately it resembled in clay form.

He believes that is the case with almost every statue, as he pointed out that, unlike his statue, those of most of his peers do not look good. But fans have not been able to see them, as their faces are generally not that evident.

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