It’s not a secret that all the adrenaline rush on the court can easily lead to altercations and bad tempers. The NBA history is filled with the stories of years-long bitter rivalries. Yet it’s still only one side of the coin. The sport also brings players together, sometimes even outside the team, forging a brotherhood that lasts a lifetime. Think of the connection between Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, or Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. But perhaps no friendship has been more talked about than the one shared between LeBron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade.

And how could it not be? It was symbolized by a picture that the individuals involved can’t forget, and the others who won’t let them forget. That crew, now known as the “Banana Boat Crew,” became a cultural symbol even though they never shared the same NBA roster. While Wade and James did win titles together in Miami, and Paul and Anthony had brief stints as teammates, all four were never on the same squad. Their iconic bond first made headlines in 2015 after a vacation photo surfaced showing James, Wade, Paul, and Gabrielle Union. And the picture rocked the NBA world at the time.

Recently, Dwyane Wade appeared on Pardon My Take, and the conversation took a fun yet nostalgic turn. When asked about the famous banana boat picture, Wade admitted it wasn’t planned. He explained, “My wife was on the banana boat with us. We were actually all on vacation together.” He added, “We were just, you know, getting in the water, having fun, and my wife wanted to go on a banana boat. So Chris Paul, Bron, I we all got on a banana boat.” And that’s how they ended up on the boat.

“No one’s supposed to know this but us, and someone took a photo from who God knows where.” Wade is still frustrated over being pictured like that. Well, LeBron would agree, it would have saved him from the comment from Shaquille O’Neal that followed later on. When asked if Melo was invited, Wade confirmed he was on the way. But when pressed about whether Melo would’ve joined the banana boat, Wade hesitated. “I don’t know if all of us would—I don’t know if Melo would have got on the banana boat,” he said. Wade hinted that Melo was “too cool” for something that playful.

Did Dwyane Wade just go along for the ride? Here’s what Union had to say

While Dwyane Wade gave his side of the banana boat story, Gabrielle Union had her own spicy take… literally. Back in 2017, she appeared on Hot Ones, where she shared how the infamous photo came to life. When asked whose idea it was and who paid for it, Union didn’t hold back. “I will take credit for the banana boat fiasco or glory, depending on how you look at it,” she said, smirking through the heat of hot wings.

Union explained that during their first couple’s trip, she spotted the inflatable banana boat among a sea of fancy yacht toys. Excited, she tried to rally the girls first. No one was interested. So she turned to LeBron, D-Wade, and Chris Paul. “It took some convincing,” she admitted, adding that the guys were worried about being watched. Union waved off their concerns, insisting, “No one is gonna see us.” Famous last words, right?

But what the cameras missed, according to Union, was the real show. Once they mounted the banana boat, the fun quickly turned chaotic. “That boat took off, and no one was really prepared,” she said. When the driver yanked a sharp turn, the whole group went flying. “All of us were like, ‘F**k, f**k, f**k,’ like that’s all you heard in the water,” she recalled, clapping to mimic the fall. It was painful, hilarious, and totally unphotographed. Well, except for that one awkward, forever-viral image.

Despite all the chaos, Union laughed it off. She owned the moment, even as NBA fans turned it into a meme. And while the world saw a goofy image, Union saw the memory behind it. “It hurt, it was painful, but magically, [photographers] only got us astride,” she said. But the real story? That stayed between friends… until the hot sauce kicked in.