Dwyane Wade on Playing With LeBron James Again: ‘Never Say Never’

Dwyane Wade didn't rule out the possibility of reuniting with LeBron James because, you know, anything can happen in the NBA.

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There appeared to be some real steam behind the rumors this off-season that Dwyane Wade was considering joining LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The wind beneath those sails died when it became clear Wade wasn't a great fit and the Cavs couldn’t come close to giving D-Wade what he was worth.

They’re both getting up there in age, but could there be a day we see Wade and James back together again in the same uniform? Wade says he’s been around the league too long to completely rule it out.

Though Wade made it very clear he’s happy with the Chicago Bulls, he also knows “how this thing goes.”

“I never thought I would play with LeBron,” Wade said, according to Nick Friedell of ESPN. “I didn’t think it was a possibility at all. I enjoyed the All-Star Games, I enjoyed the Olympics, but I never thought that we’d play together. That’s why now I look with younger guys and what they say and stuff like that because you never know what the future’s going to hold for you. Just keep your comments to yourself on the future. So I would keep my comments on myself for whatever.”

Wade certainly knew that no matter how he answered this question, it would be contorted for headlines, but credit to him for keeping it real with his answer. This seems like the way he’d honestly answer a friend who asked about the potential of him playing with LeBron again someday.

“For me, I’m here and I’m happy to be here but I was happy in Miami as well. It just happened,” Wade said. “And you never know what happens in this game. So people should never say never on anything.”

He did do his best to dampen expectations, though. Don’t get your hopes up.

“That’s not saying that I want to play with LeBron [again],” Wade said. “Let me clearly say that. That is not saying that I want to be somewhere that I’m not. That’s not saying that at all, but also I understand how this league works, how this thing goes, and people need to know just don’t say never, that’s all.”

So, to recap: Wade is not saying he wants to play with LeBron again someday (though he probably does), but he’s saying anything is a possibility. In case you’re wondering, Wade is under contract with the Bulls through 2018, as is James with Cleveland (though he also has a player option to extend through 2019). In 2018, James will be 33, and Wade will be 36.

Could we see a Karl Malone/Gary Payton-esque late-career union between two past-their-prime warriors? Probably not. But, as Bieber once said and now Wade, never say never.

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