Dwyane Wade is giving LeBron James his flowers the best way he knows how: by pointing to the work.
The two 2003 draftees have been linked for years, from their run together with the Miami Heat to the bond that has carried long after Wade’s retirement in 2019. James, meanwhile, is still going - and still producing - as he enters his 24th NBA season.
What stands out now isn’t just the length of the career. It’s how James keeps doing it. The source of that longevity, according to Wade, is the same relentless commitment that has followed him for more than two decades.
“For the last 24 years, I've always known where to find him. His dedication for greatness can leave you speechless.
Salute to my brother. Year 24,” Wade said on Instagram in a picture with him and James working out together.
James is now with the Philadelphia 76ers, his fourth NBA team, and the move adds another layer to a career already packed with milestones. He has won with his previous three teams, and now he’s chasing something nobody has done before: a title with four different franchises.
That pursuit only adds to the larger story here. Wade entered the league at the same time James did, but he’s been out of it since 2019. Carmelo Anthony was the last other 2003 draftee still active alongside James, before retiring in 2023.
Even now, James keeps separating himself from the pack. At this stage of his career, he remains one of the most remarkable athletes in the sport, and Wade’s message made the reason plain: the grind behind the scenes is still there.
And as James keeps pushing into his 40s, he’ll be trying to turn that durability into one more championship run with a 76ers team in a city that has been waiting on a title since 1983.
In Other News...
Markieff Morris Just Added A New Twist To Phillys Final Roster Spot
Markieff Morris has put himself in the conversation for Philadelphias final roster spot by taking the unusual route of airing his interest on social media. The veteran forward, a former teammate of LeBron James, made clear that he knows the minutes might not be there, but the appeal for him is bigger than playing time. For Morris, the draw is the chance to join a championship-contending group in his hometown, which gives the pitch a personal layer the Sixers have not had to weigh too often.
For now, though, there is no sign the 76ers are treating Morris as a serious option. That leaves his public push more as a self-made twist than a true momentum shift, even if it does underline how the last spot on a contender can attract veterans willing to fit almost any role. Philadelphia still has the final say, and until the team shows more than passing interest, Morris is left hoping the hometown angle is enough to keep him in the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiid Gives Sixers Fans A Reason To Believe Again
Joel Embiid has spent the summer healthy, and that alone is enough to give the Sixers a different kind of optimism as they look ahead to the new season. President of basketball operations Mike Gansey said Embiid is eager to play a fuller schedule, and the front office believes the star center has plenty of reason to stay engaged after the team reshaped the roster around him.
Gansey also pointed to the way Embiid and LeBron James meshed at the 2024 Olympics as a sign the fit can work when the coaching staff starts building out the new lineup. The next step is turning that promise into something practical, with the staff expected to manage Embiid carefully while trying to make the most of a group that now has far more star power and far more expectations. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Brown Said Exactly What Sixers Fans Needed To Hear
Jaylen Browns first public turn in a 76ers uniform gave Philadelphia exactly the kind of tone-setter fans wanted to hear. At his introductory press conference, he talked with clear enthusiasm about joining the team, working alongside the fanbase and settling into a group that expects to matter right away. He also framed the move in familiar Philadelphia terms, putting winning at the center of everything while nodding to the importance of team chemistry and the citys energy.
Brown did not stop at basketball, either. He said he wants to stay active in the community and continue the philanthropic work that has long been part of his profile, which matters in a city that likes its stars to show up beyond the court. The bigger question now is how all of that translates once the games start and the expectations tighten, because in Philadelphia, words are appreciated, but the real test comes fast. [Read more 🡒]