- The Banana Boat Crew is a name given to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony
- The “Crew” got this nickname from a trip they took to the Bahamas
- Carmelo Anthony tells the story of how LeBron James saved his life
The NBA is known for its rivalries, but it’s also known for some of the strongest friendships in sports history. One of the most iconic groups of friends in the league is the Banana Boat Crew, consisting of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony.
Their friendship has been the subject of much admiration and speculation, but the origins of their bond have been shrouded in mystery. In this article, we will delve into the history of the Banana Boat Crew, revealing how these legends of the game became one of the most famous groups of friends in sports.
The Banana Boat Crew
The question now has to be asked, how did LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony become known as the famous Banana Boat Crew? It all started in 2015 when the above-mentioned took a trip together to the Bahamas.
A photo went viral from the vacation that showed LeBron, Wade, and Paul riding on a boat that looked like a banana, along with Wade’s wife, Gabrielle Union. This led to many fans putting out jokes on the internet in regard to the photo, and the name “the Banana Boat Crew” was born.
Five years ago today!
This picture belongs in the Basketball HOF 😂
(📸: @SplashNews) pic.twitter.com/6euET6wc4w
— ESPN (@espn) July 7, 2020
Now, I know what you’re thinking… Carmelo Anthony is mentioned as a member of the Banana Crew, yet, he was not in the photo. Why is he mentioned in this group? The answer is simple: Melo was on vacation with the group, he just chose not to ride the boat.
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“I didn’t get left out. They were already down there and I was meeting them,” Anthony explained. “I had just flown in and we were, like, taxiing to the boat. They were already in the water doing water sports. I see them on the banana boat and I’m just like, ‘What is this?’ And they’re like, ‘Come on!’ And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not getting on that s***.'”
One instance that became famous from that trip, other than the banana boat ride, involved Anthony and how LeBron saved his life. All of the members of the crew swam back to the boat after snorkeling. All except for Anthony, who stayed back to continue to snorkel.
The next thing Anthony knew, he was being pulled by the current, and he was having trouble keeping his head above water. Anthony eventually grabbed a rock and hung on for dear life as he called for help.
The next thing that happened was LeBron noticed Anthony was in the water and in trouble. This was when LeBron went into full superhero mode.
“I just knew that he was not back in the boat with the rest of us so I went out looking for him,” LeBron explained. “And through the grace of God and through strength and not being afraid of the water, I was able to help him back to the boat. It was the only thing that was on my mind at that point and time, was getting my brother back to the boat.”
This was an incredible story, and it’s safe to say Anthony was lucky his Banana Crew brother, LeBron, was there to have his back. The photo of the Banana Crew might be passed around as a joke, but in reality, it’s much more.
The Banana Crew is a collection of some of the greatest NBA talents we’ve ever seen in NBA history. Who knows, maybe we’ll get a new, updated photo of the crew on a brand-new banana boat in the future.
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