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LA Lakers forward LeBron James will be playing with several new teammates next season, an experience he’s familiar with during his time with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. Heading into his 19th season in the NBA, the 36-year-old has seen teammates come and go during his stellar career.
LeBron James with the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James has played alongside many players who joined him in his quest to win a championship during the previous decade. One of the best leaders the game has seen, the four-time MVP featured in eight straight Finals between 2011 and 2018.
Interestingly, James has taken the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals on four occasions apiece. The Heat reached the Finals between 2011 and 2014, and the Cavaliers made it to the last round of the postseason four times as well.
With so many teammates who joined him in his earlier years, there are five who tagged along for the ride of a lifetime. Here's a look at them:
#5 Chris Andersen
Chris Andersen was arguably the most colorful teammate that LeBron James has ever played due to the number of tattoos the former has on his body. Andersen is an athletic and high-energy player who came off the bench for the Miami Heat during James’ last two seasons there.
LeBron James and Andersen won a championship together during the Miami Heat’s 2013 title run.
During his two-year stint playing with James in Miami, Andersen provided hustle and energy, especially in defense, averaging six points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in just 17.7 minutes per game.
Birdman rejoined LeBron James at the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2016-17 season, but played a mere 12 games before suffering a season-ending injury in December.
#4 Mike Miller
One of the purest shooters LeBron James has ever played with, Mike Miller is a deadly three-point marksman who played five straight seasons with the four-time Finals MVP. During that five-year stretch, Miller averaged just 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds, but shot 41.6% from the 3-point range.
The former Sixth Man of the Year was renowned for making crucial baskets during the Miami Heat’s championship runs. In the 2012 NBA Finals, Miller drained seven of eight 3-pointers in Game 5 as the Heat routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106 to help LeBron James win his first NBA championship.
A year later, during Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals, a shoeless Miller received a pass from LeBron James and calmly drained a crucial 3-pointer to bring the Miami Heat to within four points of a win. The Heat won the game and, eventually, the series in seven games.
In the 2014-15 NBA offseason, Miller joined LeBron James on his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. But he was a shadow of his old self, and was mostly just a decoy to open up the lane for the Cavs’ interior offense.
#3 James Jones
James Jones was one of LeBron James’ most loyal teammates. He was with the Miami Heat before James arrived on the scene, but like Miller, followed the 17-time All-Star when he went back to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the seven years he played with King James, Jones was able to win three championships with him and go to the Finals seven straight times, the most ever by a LeBron James teammate. During that time, he averaged four points a game, but made 40.8% from beyond the arc.
Though he did not have as many iconic moments as Miller did, Jones was one of the most reliable three-point shooters in LeBron James’ teams, whether that was with the Miami Heat or with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even the threat of Jones was enough to spread the floor for James, giving the NBA legend an option to pass to on a drive-and-kick.
#2 Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Though James Jones was LeBron James’ constant companion during his epic run to the Finals year after year, Zydrunas Ilgauskas was his most faithful teammate from his rookie season till his eighth year in the league.
He was LeBron James’ constant companion, and was the Cleveland Cavaliers’ second-best scorer in three of those eight seasons when he put up nightly numbers of 12.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
In the 2010 offseason, after LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat, Ilgauskas joined his teammate and played his final season in the NBA.
To honor his longtime friend, LeBron James went to Ilgauskas’ jersey retirement ceremony in Cleveland in March 2014 despite having to fly in from Chicago. Interestingly, though James was invited by Ilgauskas, the date for the ceremony was decided based on the former’s schedule, with the Cavs coordinating with their former player.
Ultimately, James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of that year, and the rest is history.
#1 Dwyane Wade
No one helped LeBron James become a champion more than Dwyane Wade has. The former Miami Heat star won a title and the Finals MVP award in 2006, way before his good friend came along and joined him in his squad.
But in 2010, Wade’s decision to remain with the Miami Heat prompted LeBron James to join his buddies (Chris Bosh included) in the team. The combination of Wade and James terrorized the league for four straight years as they carried the Heat to four straight Finals appearances.
One of the best shooting guards ever to play the game, Dwayne Wade averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game during his Miami Heat days with James.
The most key moment between the two players may have come after the Miami Heat lost in the 2011 NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks. Wade told James that he was handing off the leadership reins to the team to his friend, and they proceeded to win back-to-back championships from there.
Wade eventually teamed up with LeBron James at the 2017-18 Cleveland Cavaliers in the offseason, but it was a short-lived reunion. By midseason, the Cavs decided to overhaul their roster and sent Wade back to the Miami Heat, where he retired a year later.
You may also like: "No surprise LeBron James got zero votes in the best player poll" - Skip Bayless on ESPN voting involving team executives.
Guess the Lakers players!
