In the latter half of LeBron James' time in Miami, Dwyane Wade's performances appeared to decline sharply. With the ball out of his hands, Wade was scoring less, and he functioned more like a participant of the Heat offense than the main engine driving the team.
Now, LeBron is gone. Suddenly, Wade is back to his old self. According to the Miami Herald, Wade knows exactly why:
“I got the ball in my hands."
It's a somewhat surprising revelation since James bolted South Beach for Cleveland. While Wade's career seemed to be in serious decline -- his scoring dropped, and he missed 28 games in last year's regular season to keep his knees and body fresh for the playoffs -- Wade now seems like his old self.
That lends credibility to the notion that squeezing three superstars onto one team can dull the full impact of their respective skills. Teammate Chris Bosh has made comments in the past that playing with James kept him from affecting the game as much as he was capable of.
This season, Wade has seemed to shave years off of his career. He's averaging almost 20 points and leading the Heat in assists. Wade is also very efficient, shooting 51 percent from the field.
After ranking 128th in the league last season in touches per game, Wade is now 25th. And he's still keeping his minutes low, averaging around 32 per game. It's worked for the Heat, who are off to a 5-2 start.
Compared that to LeBron's Cavaliers, who are 3-3 and still struggling to fit their starring pieces together.
Wade also credits a dietary change over the summer that helped him cut weight and take some of the stress off of his knees. He also adopted a new training routine that so far is paying dividends.
And while he savors the two rings he won with LeBron's Heat, Wade seems content to move on to a new chapter of his life.
"I'm just enjoying life right now,” Wade told the Herald. "I'm enjoying this team and enjoying the opportunity to play in the NBA once again for another season, and sometimes you realize how blessed you are and don’t take things for granted."
NBA Stars In New Uniforms
LeBron James
James crushed Cleveland when he abandoned the team that drafted him to "take his talents to South Beach." In four years in Miami, James led the Heat to four straight NBA Finals appearances, as well as two NBA titles.
LeBron James
After last season's crushing NBA Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs, James opted out of his contract with Miami and re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Afterward, James said that he realized how much his native Ohio meant to him, and that coming back to the Cavs felt like "coming home."
Kevin Love
Love became a skilled rebounder and prolific scorer with the Timberwolves. But, frustrated by failing to make the playoffs in his entire career with Minnesota, Love had his sights set on moving to a bigger basketball market--either via trade or as a free agent in 2015.
Kevin Love
When James signed in Cleveland, though, Love was drawn to the opportunity to play on a championship-caliber roster, and the Timberwolves shipped him out.
Paul Pierce
After spending his entire career in Boston, Pierce was traded in 2013 to the Brooklyn Nets. After a tumultuous season that ended in a second-round playoff exit, "The Truth" became a free agent.
Paul Pierce
Instead of retiring, Pierce chose to join the Washington Wizards, where he is the veteran leader of a young and talented group. Last season, the Wizards advanced to the NBA Playoffs' second round. Pierce is hoping to lead them further.
Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol has two NBA championships to his name. But the Los Angeles Lakers struggled to be competitive in recent years, which made Gasol look elsewhere.
Pau Gasol
Ultimately, Gasol chose to sign a three-year contract with the Chicago Bulls. His arrival, combined with the defensive presences of Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, give the Bulls one of the NBA's most talented frontcourts.
Lance Stephenson
Despite some of his erratic behavior on the court, Stephenson was a highly valued player for Indiana, and a key reason why the Pacers reached last years' Eastern Conference Finals.
Lance Stephenson
Unfortunately for the Pacers, Stephenson's market price was too high for the to afford. The team was forced to part ways with him, as Stephenson signed a much more lucrative deal with the Charlotte Hornets.
Luol Deng
After failing to reach a contract agreement with Chicago, the Bulls shipped Deng off mid-season to Cleveland. Deng arrived ready to commit to the team long-term, but chemistry issues and other in-house problems changed Deng's mind.
Luol Deng
Instead, Deng became a free agent and served as the effective replacement for LeBron James in Miami, where he signed a two-year, $20 million contract.
Chandler Parsons
With Houston, Parsons came out of obscurity to become a major offensive weapon, particularly around the three-point line. Instead of letting him finish out his rookie contract, the Rockets made Parsons a restricted free agent and gambled on how much other teams would be willing to pay.
Chandler Parsons
That gamble didn't pay off for Houston, though. Dallas came in with a $46 million offer that the Rockets ultimately passed on. The move has left Parsons bitter about how the Rockets essentially got rid of him, while the Rockets feel Dallas overpaid just to steal their young wing player.
Jeremy Lin
After an awkward tenure in Houston, Lin was shipped out by the Rockets to make room for a max contract signing. Unfortunately for Houston, that max contract never materialized -- the franchise swung and missed on all of its top targets.
Jeremy Lin
That's good news for the Lakers, who picked up a new starting point guard at a great price. With one year left on his contract, Lin will benefit from being mentored by former two-time MVP Steve Nash.
Isaiah Thomas
Thomas emerged from a packed Sacramento backcourt to prove himself as a reliable ball handler and explosive scoring point guard. While many thought he would get a strong contract offer from the Kings, the franchise didn't fight to keep him on their roster.
Isaiah Thomas
Instead, Thomas signed with Phoenix, where ball-handling guards are part of the team's new strategy. Despite joining established stars Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe, Thomas figures to be a major contributor to the up-and-coming team.
Vince Carter
No longer the flashy dunker and scorer of his youth, Vince Carter has reinvented himself as a savvy veteran in the NBA. He was a consistent starter for Dallas for several years, maturing into a smart passer and teammate while still contributing as a scorer.
Vince Carter
Carter hopes to provide the same spark in Memphis, where wing help is much-needed. If Carter can provide the same caliber of play he displayed with the Mavericks, it could push the Grizzlies to the top of the Western Conference.
Jason Kidd
Not two years removed from his playing days, Jason Kidd is already on his second team as a head coach. Last year, Kidd led the Brooklyn Nets through a rocky first season that finished strong, leaving a good impression as a rookie coach.
Jason Kidd
Kidd's relationship with the Nets crumbled, though, after he asked for the power to make personnel decisions. Brooklyn refused, and Kidd split for Milwaukee, where he inherits last year's worst franchise.
