Big Three Era

Background

All three players were part of the 2003 NBA Draft class. James, Bosh, and Wade began discussing a potential team-up as early as 2006. By the summer of 2010, when all three were set to be free agents, they held a pre-free agency summit in Miami. Bosh moved first and chose to sign in Miami, convincing Wade to re-sign.

James announced his decision to sign with Miami in the television special The Decision. The trio led the Heat to the NBA Finals in each of their four seasons together, three of which came against teams that James or Wade had faced in the finals earlier in their careers — the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. In 2011, the Heat were defeated by the Dallas Mavericks. In 2012, the Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games, marking James's first NBA title and Bosh's first title.

In 2013, the Heat defeated the San Antonio Spurs in seven games. The following season, the Spurs finished with the NBA's best record and marched back to the Finals for a rematch.

Did You Know?

• James first referred to the trio as 'the Heatles' after a 96–82 road victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on January 3, 2011.
• All three of Bosh, Wade, and James were NBA All-Stars during all four seasons together.
• James won NBA Most Valuable Player awards in 2012 and 2013 and was named to the All-NBA First Team in all four seasons.