Heat's Winslow recalls 'animosity' after Wade signed with Bulls

When Justise Winslow entered the NBA as the Miami Heat's 10th overall pick in 2015, veteran leader Dwyane Wade took the young prospect under his wing and served as his mentor during his rookie campaign.

Wade signing with his hometown Chicago Bulls in the summer of 2016 strained their relationship, but all was well again once the 12-time All-Star returned to South Beach at the trade deadline last season.

"It’s great. There’s been some ups and downs," Winslow told Sports Illustrated's Rohan Nadkarni. "When he first got to the team, he looked out for me, kind of like a big brother. There was some animosity when he left for Chicago, I remember that first game it got kind of heated between us. Now everything is great.

"He’s a big brother to me. He’s invited me to hang out, help me on my game, watch film. He’s a stand-up guy, it’s been a blessing to play alongside him and learn from him."

The former teammates got testy in Wade's first game back in Miami with the Bulls on Nov. 10, 2016. Players from both sides had to step between the two after a hard foul by Winslow, followed by a shove in the back from Wade late in the first quarter.

"It’s basketball, we’re still competitors. There was a little tension. But I mean, we squashed it," added Winslow. "We’re grown men. We’re both doing what we love. It wasn’t anything major. We just had to figure some things out between us."

Wade's future with the Heat is currently up in the air. While team president Pat Riley has said he wants the 36-year-old back on his roster and is hopeful for a decision by mid-August, Wade remains noncommittal on if he even wants to return for a 16th NBA season.