Dwyane Wade won the NBA title with the Miami Heat on June 20, 2006, scoring 36 points and 10 rebounds in the decisive Game 6 against the Dallas Mavericks.
What happened?
The Miami Heat became NBA champions for the first time, with Dwyane Wade playing a key role in the team's success.
Gary Payton schooled Dwyane Wade on the bigger picture during the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Chicago Bulls.
The Heat's 2005-06 season was marked by tension and combustible personalities, with Shaquille O'Neal being fined $25,000 for criticizing referees.
Udonis Haslem was suspended for Game 2 after throwing his mouthpiece in the series opener.
Why it matters for Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade's performance in the 2006 NBA Finals was phenomenal, with him joining Michael Jordan, Rick Barry, and Elgin Baylor as the only players with four consecutive 35-point games in the league's championship series.
Wade averaged almost 40 points a game in the finals, leading the Heat to their first championship.
The title cemented Miami-Dade County and the surrounding South Florida area as a viable hotbed for championship hoops.
What comes next?
Since Miami drafted Dwyane Wade with the No. 5 pick in 2003, the franchise ranks second in the NBA with 143 playoff wins and three titles.
Dwyane Wade's basketball masterpiece in the 2006 finals remains one of the greatest performances in NBA history.
And the Heat's championship win was a testament to the team's hard work and dedication.
But the 2006 finals will always be remembered as Dwyane Wade's moment, with him scoring 16 more points in the paint than any Mavericks player from Games 3 through 6.
So the Heat's first NBA championship was a significant moment in the franchise's history.
The team's veterans, including Gary Payton, Shaquille O'Neal, and Alonzo Mourning, all played important roles in the team's success.
And Dwyane Wade's leadership and performance were key to the Heat's championship win.
The Heat's championship win was a result of the team's ability to come together and play as a unit.
Dwyane Wade's performance in the 2006 NBA Finals will always be remembered as one of the greatest in NBA history.