I can’t think of a more touching story about friendship.

Many years later, standing on the sidelines, Dwyane Wade will think of that distant afternoon when he and Haslem first met.

Udonis Haslem? Haslem, the fat guy from the University of Florida? The 21-year-old Wade and others around him couldn't believe it. The player with the braided hair in front of him looked like a completely different person - he had lost at least 30 kilograms compared to his appearance after losing the draft in the draft a year ago!

"I have been preparing. I need an opportunity. I know that only by constantly pushing myself can I get this opportunity. I am very grateful to get the opportunity and come here." Haslem in the French League Not many people know exactly how he spent this year. The only important thing is that he was spotted by Pat Riley, recruited his subordinates, and the 2003 draft - as we all know, the generation is about to shine. New stars gathered here - together with the drafted Dwyane Wade, they became the new blood of the Heat. Years later, they will become a symbol of Miami.

1

LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were surrounded by reporters when Wade was asked their names in the locker room before the All-Star Rookie Game. They are the pride of heaven, the twin prides of the world, their destined rivals, and the darlings of the media. Wade? Who is that?

"My name is Dwyane Wade, D-W-Y-A-N-E, from the Miami Heat." Wade's expression changed slightly, and his voice was clearly and powerfully transmitted into the microphone and into the ears of this reporter. At that time, Haslem, who was going to participate in the rookie game together, would he think of himself who was not interested in the draft a year ago? Does he best understand the feeling of being ignored? Maybe at some moment and corner when no one is paying attention, he will mention this to Wade and persuade Wade to focus on the court. At that time, Wade will nod and smile, with a little greenness.

It doesn’t matter, it’s about basketball, let’s decide the difference on the court.

In the first round of the playoffs, when Haslem saw Wade on the bench and hit the buzzer beater in the playoffs, he should have jumped more than anyone else. Higher, shouting louder, punching more powerfully. Because he understands how excited Wade is. At that time, Anthony stopped in the first round and James had not yet entered the playoffs. On this stage where the qualities of superstars are tested, the first one to stand out is Wade and the Heat.

It’s not enough, you have to become stronger. Only by becoming stronger can you get more opportunities. Just like Wade.

Haslem shook his head and continued to practice mid-range shots.

2

The shark is coming!

Haslem knows that he will eventually get his own opportunity, but he probably has not thought about being able to partner with one of the most terrifying centers.

"This is Wade's team." Shark said cheerfully, as if he was mocking someone with this open-minded attitude. This irony is of course not just words but no actions. The aging Shark is working hard to help Wade win a championship for Miami, together with Haslem.

The veteran Grant left, and Haslem got the chance to start. 11+9, 54% shooting rate, this is Haslem's way of repaying his kindness. Rebounds, mid-range shots, toughness, flexibility, and all the dirty work. Haslem provides everything the Sharks need. Two bodies, one tall and one short, one big and one strong, support a rising star. Rising Star - Until the Eastern Conference Finals, injuries struck and the Rising Star fell.

It doesn’t matter. How will Haslem comfort Wade? Maybe it's superfluous to say anything. We just take back what belongs to us. Yes, come back next year. When Haslem signed his five-year contract, he had only one idea in mind.

Next year, we have only one goal.

3

Standing on the podium, Haslem suddenly realized that his shoulder was aching. Until ten minutes ago, he was still struggling with the power forward with the most outstanding shooting ability, trying his best to deal with the opponent's number one star-Dirk Nowitzki.

This guy is simply a shooting machine. No matter what the incredible posture and position, he can hit the ball.

Facing such a seven-footer with an injury, what will the 203-centimeter Haslem do? Pushing, colliding, entangled, and preparing for battle, he went around, he stole, he rushed to the opponent's basket, and then his opponent viciously grabbed his arm from the air and pulled him down - after landing, he bent down and lowered his head, and said Teeth grinned and covered his shoulders, which hurt.

But it’s over and everything is fine. Haslem looked at the back of Wade holding the Finals MVP trophy high, and Wade still had a green smile on his face.

4

Everything is over. Champions, Sharks, veteran staff, and a healthy Wade.

No one knew that when Wade was shouting in pain from the sidelines, when Wade left the court silently due to a shoulder injury, when the defending champion was swept by the young Bulls in the first round, Haslem was there What are you thinking? Compared to the shoulder injury, compared to Wade, the lonely reality in front of him, which one is more painful? 10 points and 8 rebounds. Such average data per game seems far from enough to save the Heat before it fell apart. In fact, if someone really was the savior, no one would think it would be Haslem. Maybe it's the returning Wade, maybe it's the aging Shark, maybe it's any veteran who was killed by the champion after winning the championship, but it won't be this 27-year-old stupid guy, this little blue-collar insider who is regarded as a coolie. .

At that time, people may wonder, if a trade is sought, what kind of immediate combat power can Haslem get in exchange?

5

Darkness and nightmare, these words are reality for Haslem in the 07-08 season. Averaging 12 points and 9 rebounds per game, Haslem would not know that this was the peak season of his life, but it was also the lowest point in the team's history. Everything is like a ship sailing at night, with vast and endless green surroundings. With Wade gone and the sharks gone, this king's division that was still on top of the world two years ago fell apart in an instant, leaving only a pile of rubble and soldiers beside the ruins looking forward to the dawn.

6

Wade is back. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, he came back from the Olympics with a gold medal, passion, madness, and hope.

Use a performance of 30.2+5.7.5+2.1+1.3 to announce the return of the killer, and use a scoring champion to answer all doubts. This is Wade, the Wade that Haslem is familiar with. The Heat, which was waiting to be revitalized, had two backbones, one inside and one outside, with fresh blood like Beasley and Chalmers, plus O'Neal Jr. who came to Miami not long ago - Haslem had to compete with the Heat again. O'Neal's inside partner - then everything is not a problem.

Haslem and Wade came out of their injuries, stepped onto the court, unleashed all their energy, and fought for a place in a world where the heroes are divided and fighting.

Although, they are not destined to belong to the group of people competing for the top spot. The whole world is singing the purple and gold carols and looking forward to 23VS24. The South Coast Heat is just a footnote to a great season.

Little did they know at that time that the name South Coast would soon be remembered in history when a decision was announced.

7

"This is the last time I will fall in the first round!" Wade gritted his teeth, even though he scored 46 points against the iron-clad Celtics to pull back a victory. , but there is still no way to save the day. Beasley, O'Neal, these high-anticipated helpers have all disappeared, and Haslem, who was pressed on the bench, was recalling the first time he played in the playoffs in his life, watching Wei Wei on the bench. The way Germany led his team past the first round.

"This is the last time I fall in the first round!"

This is Wade's anger, Wade's pain, and Wade's helplessness. Only Haslem can understand it best - this little man could hit buzzer beaters and lead the team to the semifinals as a rookie, but in the prime of his life, he was stopped in the first round for two consecutive years? He is the scoring leader Wade, Jordan who is 5 centimeters shorter, one of the three most terrifying people in the league, and a superstar who becomes more powerful the more he is underestimated and questioned. How can you tolerate this happening?

"This is the last time I will fall in the first round!"

At that time, Haslem could not have expected it, and the people who were sad and angry that Wade was carrying the Heat alone could not have imagined that they were used to it. People who looked down on him, ignored him, and underestimated him could not even imagine what this declaration meant-until the decision came out of the blue: "I am going to bring my talents to the South Coast."

Everything changes from now on.

8

Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh. The Miami Heat created one of the most luxurious Big Three lineups overnight. The Heat that struggled in the first round with Wade alone no longer exists. Instead, there is "not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six" championship prospects. . Yes, they are arrogant and arrogant. They are planning to become enemies of the whole world because they have this capital.

After all this was revealed, people began to think - why was no one aware of this huge change in advance? Did they plan this conspiracy when they were brothers for the 2008 Olympic Games? Since then, James has always been with Wade, and the so-called brother basketball has become more and more popular.

However, basketball is always a game of five people, and the team always has to make a roster of 12 people. What kind of green leaves should the Heat match with their flourishing red flowers, after the three of them occupy most of the salary space?

Haslem feels that his Heat career may be over here. Of course, he didn't want to leave. Ever since he tattooed the map of Florida on his back, he hadn't wanted to leave here. However, Wade already has much stronger helpers than himself, and as a free agent, he also has his own difficulties - he needs money, his mother's illness requires this money, and the Heat may not be able to provide much help.

"You will always be my brother." How did Haslem feel when he sent this text message to Wade? Two teams have already submitted five-year, 34 million contracts, just waiting for his nod. You are my brother, I want to tell you before I leave, you are my brother, always will be. That was the last moment before Haslem and this city parted ways with Wade.

9

"I called Chris and told him that UD was the player we needed and asked him to take a pay cut. I called LeBron again and everything went well. They They didn’t ask anything, because they believed in me.”

When Wade said this to the media, he did not mention that he was the one who took the salary cut, as the soul, owner and meritorious warrior of this team. , but he accepted the lowest salary among the Big Three. Why?

"When I mention South Florida, I think of Haslem." Wade can't let him leave, no matter what, Haslem can't leave here.

And what about Haslem? 20 million in 5 years, this is the effort the Heat can make, but it is still 14 million short. But Haslem signed immediately. Before that, he didn't know what would happen. He felt that he would eventually bow to reality and accept the outcome of leaving Miami and Wade. But in an instant, everything changed and he stayed.

Wade said: "Without him, I feel that we are incomplete. Many people are accusing us of only focusing on money, but we are willing to sacrifice, such as shooting rights, playing time and annual salary. They are all expendable. At this point, those people have nothing to say."

Haslem said: "Our friendship is priceless and cannot be measured by money. ”

Finally, after all the dust settled, Haslem, the tough guy with frowning eyes on the court, said a word to Wade, which was better than a thousand thanks and better than any heroic words. Better than any relationship in this business alliance, even better than any bond on the court - that sentence is:

I love you!

10

History will remember that the German who was so annoyed by Haslem’s defense succeeded in revenge six years later and shattered his dream. place, lifted the O'Brien Cup, won the Finals MVP, and reached the pinnacle of life.

History will remember that the second lockout caused the season to be shortened, but it will not let the heart of pursuing the championship fade away - when the Heat reached the top of the world again, Haslem and Wade embraced together.

In addition to these glorious scenes destined to be recorded in history, there will also be some small but touching scenes in the memory of Miami.

For example, on the way to the second championship, Bosh was injured, who did the Heat rely on to support the inside line.

For example, when the Pacers' Hansbrough committed a flagrant foul and broke Wade's brow bone with a palm, who stood up for Wade and responded with a flagrant foul to scare away all the bad guys? read. Wade's Haslem is like Oakley around Jordan.

"We want to dedicate this ball to UD." When the Pacers were eliminated, Wade gave the game ball to Haslem, "This victory is dedicated to him."

11

27 consecutive wins is so happy, two consecutive championships is so happy.

However, Haslem is no longer brave. In those fragmentary playing times, he is still working hard, but gradually he is unable to do his job. However, he is still the spiritual leader and one of the Heat's co-captains!

The other is Wade - an indispensable puzzle piece for this team to move forward.

With the Triple Crown in hand, if Haslem had anything to complain about, it was probably that the media was all about putting Wade and James together and touting their brotherhood, but they always Ignore yourself who has truly been with Wade through thick and thin.

Maybe not. For Haslem, after Wade changed his sneaker sponsor—to Li Ning and created the Wade Way brand—he immediately prompted Li Ning to sign Himself; even the watch endorsement advertisement, he also shared it with himself.

What do outsiders know? Does it matter what they say?

That's enough.

12

The Heat failed to complete their three consecutive championships.

LeBron James went home.

Haslem may feel that this scene is familiar, winning the championship and then losing, and then someone leaves, leaving a tired mess.

Moreover, this time, he is old, and so is Wade. After Bosh, the team's biggest salary, was reimbursed due to illness, even if Dragic and Whiteside brought a glimmer of hope, however, when the leader no longer has the courage of the past, when the team is lost in the continuous wave of injuries, everything It all seems to be doomed.

In the 2014-2015 season, Wade's Heat failed to make the playoffs for the second time. For Haslem, it's like history repeating itself.

13

But everything will be fine.

The Heat got the No. 10 pick and selected a rookie since drafting Wade in 2003, Justise Winslow.

Hassan Whiteside, the inside pillar discovered by the Heat, defended, blocked shots, grabbed rebounds as always, and showed off his clumsy but occasionally effective low-post moves as always.

Bosh is back, bringing back outside firepower and the dignity of a giant.

Dragic is still trying to find his rhythm, no problem, he is so smart, he will definitely be able to adapt.

Tyler Johnson, Green, Stoudemire, a lot of people, they're all good.

What is a little sad is that Chalmers left - when Joel left, and when Beasley left twice, it may not have been so obvious, but this time, they worked side by side to catch up with Wade. All his teammates are gone; among those who have witnessed Wade's rise from hell, Haslem is the only one left.

Looking back at the beginning, there was Odom, Grant Butler, then O'Neal and Jones, then Mourning, Payton, White Chocolate Walker and Posey. Later, Marion and Jr. came and went, and it was Quin Ting Richardson and Quinn's three-pointers, Magloire's rebound and Moon's alley-oop, and then James and Bosh came, with Big Z and Dampier, Battier and Mike Miller made many three-pointers, Ray Allen and Lewis became teammates again, Beasley left and came back, Oden failed to prove himself in the end; Joel was sent away, McRoberts and Deng, Chamo Si was sent away, Dragic and Whiteside, the solid camp and the flow of soldiers, the Heat, Miami, and the American Airlines Center on the south coast were in chaos. To this day, there are still two of them.

Wade and Haslem are still protecting each other and this city under the banner of three championships.

One day in the thirteenth year, they became the longest-lasting duo who debuted on the same team in the same year. Twelve years have passed, enough time to finish elementary school, junior high school and high school. From ignorance and youth to maturity and prudentness, I have climbed to the top of the world and fallen to hell and nightmare, joys and sorrows, ups and downs. People come and go, but you are the only one. I've been there through thick and thin.

Twelve years have passed, and everything is still going on.