LeBron James hit his first free throw to put the Lakers up by two. Dwyane Wade sidled up to him before the second shot.
"Bro, just miss it so I can shoot the game-winner," Wade said in the waning seconds of their last game together.
"Me and you. One on one. Just let me shoot it and go for it." LeBron didn't miss. Dwyane didn't really expect him to.
They still got that last showdown, one on one with the game on the line. Wade launched a 27-foot fadeaway jumper that didn't go down, and the buzzer eventually sounded on the Lakers' 108-105 victory over Miami on Monday night while they scrapped for one last rebound.
To the final moment in their 16 seasons of simultaneous stardom, these rivals and teammates competed with passion and love. When it was over, they hugged and vowed to get together soon.
"That's just us," James said.
"Some people say you shouldn't be friends with your competitors. But even with our friendship, we competed against each other and we pushed each other."
"He knows my moves just like I know his moves. I just wanted to enjoy the competition for the last time."
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