LeBron prepares for final duel with Wade: 'It's bitter, and it's sweet'

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will face off for the 31st and final time of their storied, intertwined careers on Monday night when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Miami Heat. Understandably, emotions are running high.

Wade, who announced in September he's retiring at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, says it won't be just another game.

"I'm not going to sit here and tell you, 'Oh, it's another one of 82.' No, it's not," Wade said on Saturday, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "Not for me. It's a game where I get to play against not only one of my best friends but one of the game's greatest players for the last time. I want to win as a team, but I want to savor the opportunities."

James reflected on his relationship with Wade that began 15 years ago.

"It's bitter, and it's sweet. It's sweet and sour," he said of the final matchup between the two. "The sweet part about it is I've always loved being on the same floor with my brother. We struck up a relationship together at the combine in 2003, and it started from there. And the sour part about it is that this is our last time sharing the same court."

The all-time series between James and Wade stands at an even 15-15, according to Basketball-Reference. Here's how their numbers over 30 meetings stack up: