Twenty-three NBA seasons have changed almost everything around LeBron James. Teams have changed, teammates have retired and another championship pursuit will now take him to Philadelphia. One constant, according to Dwyane Wade, has remained remarkably easy to find.

The longtime friends and former Miami Heat teammates reunited during an offseason workout in Los Angeles as James prepares for his first season with the Philadelphia 76ers and a record 24th NBA campaign.

Seeing James still putting himself through the same summer routine prompted Wade to reflect on a work ethic he has witnessed since both entered the league in 2003.

“For the last 24 years I’ve always known where to find him,” Wade wrote on Instagram. “His dedication for greatness can leave you speechless. Salute to my brother. Year 24.”

James answered with a simple message that underlined how close the two remain: “My brother! Love you bro!”

Wade watched James’ routine outlast entire generation

The significance of Wade’s tribute goes beyond nostalgia. Both players belonged to the celebrated 2003 draft class before eventually joining forces in Miami in 2010.

Along with Chris Bosh, they reached four consecutive NBA Finals and won championships in 2012 and 2013. Wade played his final NBA game in 2019. Seven years later, James is still preparing for another title run.

The workout was organized by prominent trainer Chris Johnson and also included new Sixers teammate Tyrese Maxey, giving James an opportunity to combine an old friendship with one of the relationships that could define his newest challenge.

That detail matters for Philadelphia. James is walking into another star-heavy roster that includes Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown, and building chemistry will be essential for a group immediately expected to contend.

James begins Year 24 with another chase

The circumstances are new, but the objective is familiar. After eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, James moved east this summer for what he has described as the final chapter of his career.

Philadelphia now offers him an opportunity to pursue a fifth championship with a fourth different franchise.

His game has inevitably evolved as he has moved deeper into his 40s. The relentless physical dominance of his Miami prime is no longer the only way he controls games, with experience, strength and playmaking becoming increasingly important to his longevity.

The preparation, however, appears stubbornly unchanged. That is what made Wade’s message resonate. He has seen James as a teenage phenom, an opponent, a teammate, a champion and eventually one of his closest friends.

Through every version, the gym has remained the easiest place to find him. Philadelphia will soon discover whether that dedication can produce one final championship chapter. Wade already knows where the attempt begins.