Copyright © 2025 Bleacher Report, Inc. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.

Speaking on the 'Underground Lodge' podcast, Heat legend Dwyane Wade set the record straight on the series of events which forced LeBron James from the Heat. According to Wade, Pat Riley's micromanagement was a major problem and he recalls what happened when Riley took LeBron's favorite cookies from the plane.

Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade took another trip down memory lane in a recent interview, addressing how team president Pat Riley’s micromanagement may have led to LeBron James’ departure. After Wade recalled an All-Star beef with Dirk Nowitzki,

Wade explains that it started when they were boarding the plane to head back to Maimi, and they started their ritual of playing cards with each other. He remembers that, like clockwork, during the game, James would ask someone to bring him his dessert of choice: chocolate chip cookies.

NBA legend Dwyane Wade knew LeBron James could leave the Miami Heat when Pat Riley took his cookies on the plane.  LeBron left the Heat for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2014.  LeBron cried in Randy Mims’ driveway a month after leaving the Cavaliers for the Heat in 2010.

Dwyane Wade says LeBron James was PISSED when Pat Riley took his cookies and felt that was a sign LeBron might leave due to Riley’s micromanagement (🎥 @undergrndlounge / h/t @HeatCulture13 ) pic.twitter.com/NlJXfZZaqX

Pat Riley is the real man behind Cookie Monster’s costume. Dwyane Wade told a wild story on the “Underground Lounge” podcast about former Heat teammate LeBron James throwing a fit over Pat Riley taking away his cookies on the team plane.