LeGM at the table? 5 times LeBron James tried to personally recruit players in the NBA

#3 Dwyane Wade

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade (right) won two championships together.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have paired up for two different franchises. The duo reached four consecutive NBA Finals together between 2011 and 2014 when they played for the Miami Heat.

James and Wade had a mutual agreement of sorts the first time they played together with the Heat. The second time they teamed up in Cleveland in 2018, James had a huge role to play as a recruiter. Wade himself spoke on the matter in an interview with ESPN after joining LeBron James and the Cavs. Here's what he said:

"He (LeBron) texted me to just take my temperature a little bit...Then he hit me again later, like, 'I don't know what you're gonna do. I don't know where your mind is right now, but if something happens in Chicago and you guys decide to part ways, I want you to really consider coming to Cleveland.'"

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James did not play for too long at the Cleveland Cavaliers, though. That's because Wade was traded at the trade deadline in 2018 to his former team, the Miami Heat. Wade wasn't a great fit for Cleveland, and struggled to make an impact.

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#2 Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis (left) and LeBron James won a championship in their first season together.

Anthony Davis was the big-name signing for the LA Lakers in the 2019 NBA offseason. The move worked wonders for the franchise, as they won their first title in a decade. LeBron James was heavily involved in the recruitment of Davis.

After LeBron James publicly endorses trade for Anthony Davis, small market GM's privately seething over NBA's unwillingness to enforce tampering rules. One GM: "It's open season on small markets and our players." Story on ESPN: https://t.co/xnqAQas59i

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2018

James had hinted at his desire to play alongside Davis publicly during his first season with the LA Lakers. The two players were also managed by the same agent - Rich Paul - of Klutch Sports when Davis made the switch from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Lakers.

James and Davis are still teammates at the LA Lakers, and are widely regarded as the best duo in the NBA right now.

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#1 Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard (left) and LeBron James in action during an NBA game.

LeBron James has always been a huge fan of Damian Lillard. The LA Lakers star has shown support for Lillard several times publicly. The Portland Trail Blazers star has been loyal to his franchise. Nut there have been instances when James tried to recruit him.

“Give me Damian Lillard, I’ll show you how appreciated he’d be.” - LeBron James pic.twitter.com/o1OGdZ1K3i

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 15, 2020

When LeBron James joined the LA Lakers in 2018, Damian Lillard was among the players he tried recruiting. According to former Phoenix Suns GM Ryan McDonough, Lillard was on James' radar shortly after the latter signed for the Lakers in 2018.

There was a lot of speculation this offseason as well about Lillard joining the Lakers after the Portland Trail Blazers failed to get past round one of the playoffs last season. However, the LA Lakers signed up Russell Westbrook instead.