Rich Paul challenged a long-standing NBA narrative by saying the Miami Heat’s championship core of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh was never a true “Big Three.”
The influential agent made the statement during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, where he emphasized that the Heat’s success was made possible because Bosh embraced a reduced role.
“I always love a big two. I don’t really love a big three. I don’t, really,” Paul said, via HoopsHype, addressing the often-used label attached to the Heat’s 2010s title run.
He continued by explaining that, despite the star power, the Miami trio functioned differently than most superstar-laden teams.
“You say, ‘Well, what happened in Miami?’ That wasn’t really a big three,” Paul said. “There were three guys that were winning the lottery, and they did really well individually on their team.”
Paul credited Bosh for being the difference-maker behind Miami’s chemistry and sacrifice-driven style.
“When you think about it, Bosh was the ultimate professional. He took a back seat, and he played a role… his approach to everything is what made that work,” Paul explained.
James, Wade, and Bosh joined forces in the summer of 2010, forming one of the most high-profile team-ups in NBA history.
Together, they led the Heat to four straight NBA Finals appearances and back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
While James won two league MVPs during that stretch and Wade remained a key offensive option, Bosh transitioned from a primary scorer in Toronto to a floor-spacing big man in Miami.
His willingness to sacrifice touches and adjust his game around the team’s needs was often cited by coaches and teammates, but Paul’s comments added new weight to that narrative.
The idea of a “Big Three” has been a popular team-building model in the NBA for years, but Paul argued that those groups rarely achieve balance unless someone is willing to scale back.
