The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 108-105 at the Staples Center on Monday night, but the main storyline was built around LeBron James' final meeting with Dwyane Wade on the court.

Wade announced before the season that 2018-19 will be his last in the NBA. With the Heat-Lakers season series now over, it all but ensured Wade will never face his former Miami Heat teammate again.

James, Wade and Chris Bosh teamed up together in the summer of 2010, forming a super team that would rule the Eastern Conference for four years. The trio of perennial All-Stars and future Hall of Famers led Miami to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances, highlighted by championships in 2012 and 2013. The era ended when James rejoined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.

It's been five years since James last played in South Beach. Reminiscing on old times, Wade explained after the game why the 'Big Three' in Miami was so successful. Here's what he said, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne:

"We definitely were a part of shifting the culture. I don't want to say changing it, we shifted a little bit. Even from the start with us, being so close, going out to eat, going to movies, etc., then go out and play each other the next night. People didn't understand that at first.

But we shifted the culture of how you can still compete, you can still be great and push each other. It's not for everyone. You got the Mamba mentality, if it's not for Giannis, it's not for everybody.

It's something that worked for us. We clicked from the beginning, and we've pushed each other and helped each other's career[s] go up another level and another notch. So he's been great for me, and I've been great for him."

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Indeed, the Heat sure knew how to work together as a big three. Egos did not get in the way for James, Bosh and Wade. They were all about winning, and nothing else. That's why they had no problem cruising to four straight NBA Finals appearances.

The three Heat superstars also paved the way for the start of a 'super team' era. The Golden State Warriors added Kevin Durant in the 2016 offseason to make their powerhouse that much better.

The Los Angeles Lakers gave it a shot by adding Dwight Howard and Steve Nash in the 2012 offseason, though the duo struggled to get on the same page with Kobe Bryant. The Oklahoma City Thunder added Paul George to complement Russell Westbrook last offseason, and it's done major wonders.

What This Means

James has played with a handful of superstars over his illustrious career, but Wade was undoubtedly the best of them all. And perhaps no teammate earned more respect from James than Wade himself.

These men truly changed the landscape of the NBA, and even though Miami's big three era ended five seasons ago, we continue to feel the impact they made.

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