In 2011, the Miami Heat's star-studded trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh faced the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Featuring the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and Jason Kidd, the Mavericks' lineup was noted for its heavy veteran presence.
In Game 4, it was reported that Nowitzki played with flu-like symptoms. He scored a team-high 21 points in the Mavericks' victory. The series was then tied at 2-2.
Prior to Game 5, Wade and James were caught on camera mocking Nowitzki's cough. In a recent interview on The Zach Lowe Show, Wade discussed the infamous scene.
"It was a childish moment that was caught on tape. It was really a moment of us saying to the cameras, ‘Stop giving them excuses.' It was like ‘Oh, it's another excuse. He's now sick? Everyone is dealing with something, but it became some bulletin board info for the team and for Dirk. You don't want to give a team nothing extra. You're already in the Finals and they're already a very good team… Just added a little more juice to the series."
The Mavericks would go on to win the 2011 NBA championship in six games. Nowitzki was named the Finals MVP, averaging 26.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.
The German forward would continue his professional basketball career in Dallas, retiring in 2019. The Basketball Hall of Famer finished as a one-time MVP, one-time NBA champion, and 14-time All-Star. His jersey number was later retired by the Mavericks.
The James-Wade-Bosh Heat dynasty would win two NBA championships during their time together. The trio broke up after James decided to resign with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.
Shortly afterward, Bosh dealt with career-threatening health issues and made numerous attempts to return to action. He ultimately played his final NBA game in 2016.
With Bosh sidelined and James in Cleveland, Wade decided to sign with the Chicago Bulls during the free agency period of 2016. Prior to that point, he had been a member of the Heat since 2003.
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