For the first time since packing his bags to return to Cleveland, Lebron James will be returning to Miami in today’s Christmas matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
And for the first time in over four years, Lebron and close friend Dwyane Wade will be playing each other as opponents.
Back before Lebron ever came to Miami — in his first stint with the Cavaliers, he and Dwyane Wade were still friends, and were two of the top three players in the league. As a result, the duo would often turn in explosive performances whenever they played each other.
The Christmas matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat in 2007 was arranged for exactly this reason — to see these two stars perform, and they did not dissapoint, combining for 47 points and 20 assists(see above video).
Indivdually, Lebron had 25 points and 12 assists, while Wade totaled 22 points and 8 assists. The Cavaliers won that game 96-82.
Seven years later, the pair will again be playing each other on Christmas day. This time, Lebron is returning to Miami after having spent four years there as Wade’s teammate before going back to Cleveland. Today, Lebron is regarded as basketball’s best player, while Wade is considered to have fallen off considerably and no longer in his prime. Nevertheless, Wade is still the Heat’s leading scorer — averaging a sterling 22.8 points per game, and thus the duo still have the potential to put up an exhilarating performance.
