When the Miami Heat acquired LeBron James and Chris Bosh back in 2010, everybody thought the team would be together for a long time. The two, alongside mainstay Dwyane Wade, formed one of the most imposing superstar trios in NBA history. They were still in their mid 20s and were still at the peak of their primes back then.

However, the trio only lasted for four years.

After losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals, LeBron made his decision to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wade had a feeling the news was coming when he talked to his good friend during the offseason in Las Vegas, and he told Sports Illustrated's Rohan Nadkarni that he accepted James' decision with open arms.

“I know who LeBron is. I know that the conversation with me was probably one of the most uncomfortable conversations that he had to have. And I know he wanted to have it earlier. We were in Vegas together, I could see there was something he wanted to say. But it was hard for him to say it. I had a feeling he was leaving. I wasn’t disappointed. I wasn’t mad.”

Back in 2009, LeBron promised Cavs fans that he will not stop until he leads the team to a championship. One year later, he took his talents to South Beach, causing massive outrage from Ohio natives. That was his main motivation for returning to Cleveland in 2014, and he was glad that Wade understood his decision:

“He’s always been supportive of every decision I’ve ever made. Throughout my career, we’ve always bounced decisions off one another. I knew, because of our friendship and the respect that we have for one another, that he would respect it. At the end of the day, there’s always been that trust and respect for each other, and that’s bigger than anything.”

LeBron went on to fulfill that promise in 2016, leading the Cavs to a stunning upset of the Golden State Warriors.

Dwyane Wade soon joined LeBron in Cleveland back in 2017, but their reunion wasn't as successful, and he was traded back to the Heat, where he wanted to finish his career all along.