In a recent episode of “The Why with Dwyane Wade,” a co-production of iHeartPodcasts and Wade’s 59th & Prairie Entertainment, NBA veteran Chris Paul shared a fascinating insight into how he almost joined forces with LeBron James and Wade on the Miami Heat. However, the potential trade hit a snag over a seemingly trivial matter – jersey numbers.
During the candid conversation, Paul reminisced about the discussions they had regarding their plans to team up in Miami. He mentioned contemplating the dynamics of their potential partnership and how they would share ball-handling duties.
Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Paul revealed, “We was talking about me coming to Miami. We was talking about who was gonna have the ball in their hands, how it’s going to work.”
Wade chimed in, recalling the pivotal moment when the question arose about which player would wear the coveted number three jersey. “We talk about all of this, who gonna have the ball, how we’re all going to play together,” Wade said, “And then somebody said ‘Well who gon’ wear number three?’”
The dispute over jersey numbers proved to be an unexpected obstacle in the trade discussions. “Silence. Messed the whole trade up…because CP couldn’t wear number three in Miami,” Wade explained.
As the conversation unfolded, it became clear that both players were unwilling to compromise on the matter. “D-Wade wanted to sacrifice everything else, he didn’t want to sacrifice a damn number,” Paul remarked with a hint of amusement.
Despite their willingness to sacrifice and strategize for the greater good of the team, the disagreement over the jersey number ultimately prevented the trade from materializing. “Whole trade, all because of a jersey number,” Wade lamented.
In the annals of NBA lore, the “what-if” scenario of Paul donning the Miami Heat jersey alongside Wade and James remains a fascinating chapter in the rich tapestry of basketball history.
