LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh hardly first 'Big Three'

• LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces in 2010 as the Heat's "Big Three"
• But that trio, however impressive, was not first such grouping in NBA history
• "Big Three" format was popularized in 1980s with Lakers and Celtics

When LeBron James was asked during his 2010 TV special about forming a super team in Miami with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, he pointed to history as a reason for why he decided to join the Heat and why he thought the formula would work.

"This is a league where you become a superstar individually but you become a champion as a team, and I understand that, I know the history of the game," James said confidently.

"Since 1980 you look at all the teams that won — the Lakers teams, the Pistons teams, the Bulls teams, the Spurs teams, the Celtics teams. ... When Magic (Johnson) played, he had Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) and (James) Worthy. When (Larry) Bird played, he had Dennis Johnson and Kevin McHale and also Robert Parish. And (Michael) Jordan was great. He also had (Scottie) Pippen and he had Horace Grant."

James went on to say that teams are not built with two or three players. However, with three superstars on a then-bare roster, three was the number that stood out like red wine on a white carpet.

Hence, the "Big Three" was reborn in Miami.

Throughout NBA history, some of the greatest teams to win championships have strikingly followed the three-star system.

The names of the most popular trios roll off the tongue with ease for basketball fans. Most recently before the Heat it was the San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

"I think the biggest thing with a Big Three is you have to throw your egos out and buy in, but you also have to have one main catalyst," Magic Johnson told USA TODAY Sports.

"Larry was that player for the Celtics, I was that for the Lakers, and I think we saw LeBron become that for the Heat. That was the biggest difference to me that helped them win the title."

James, Wade and Bosh spearheaded Miami to its first title as a threesome by defeating another Big Three in the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.

"I think because of salary-cap restrictions we're starting to see these Big Threes, these super teams," ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon told USA TODAY Sports. "Back in the '70s, more great players were needed. Three is what we're starting to see for most rich, big-market franchises who've made room to sign or trade for big stars. Although Oklahoma City didn't do it that way," making keen moves in the draft.

The Celtics helped revitalize the Big Three by winning an NBA title in 2008 after Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined Paul Pierce.

Allen, who signed with the Heat in the offseason, said team chemistry is key when there are three superstars on the court together.

"You just always have to respect each other no matter what," he said. "Sometimes it's not about interacting with each other, but it's the time on the court. Sometimes it's letting another person talk and just respecting each other from that aspect because everybody's here.

"It's not just the Big Three. It's everybody who is a part of the team."

With the arrival of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash in Los Angeles, joining forces with 34-year-old Kobe Bryant, a new Big Three — at least in star power, as Pau Gasol may be better than Nash now — has been formed in Hollywood.

"That's the way the league is evolving. To be competitive you have to have three guys," Bryant told news reporters this summer.

But an argument could be made that the Lakers have four great players with Pau Gasol, still one of the league's premier big men.

Wilbon doesn't feel as though three superstars always equals a winning formula, particularly when teams such as the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls essentially had four stars with Jordan, Pippen, Rodman and Toni Kukoc.

"If you look at some of the great teams, you definitely could argue there were more than three players," Wilbon said.

"Those Bird teams with McHale, who's better between Dennis Johnson and Robert Parish?"

And perhaps the most talented Big Three of all time — Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor with the Lakers — never won a championship together.