Before injuries began to take their toll, Dwyane Wade had a mindset of aiming to surpass Michael Jordan, believing he was on a trajectory to be among the greatest. Wade, renowned for his high-stakes performances, particularly after leading the Miami Heat to the playoffs as a rookie, boasts three NBA championships, a Finals MVP award, 13 All-Star appearances, and eight All-NBA selections. Although often overshadowed by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in discussions of the greatest shooting guards, Wade’s impressive career achievements highlight his skill and potential.
In a candid reflection on his early career, Wade shared on “7pm in Brooklyn,” “I did a lot of things well and played various roles. I may not be the best shooter or the best at this or that, but I excelled in numerous aspects of the game. Before injuries hit, I was driven by the mindset of ‘MJ, I’m coming for you.’ That was my mentality.”
Wade’s rookie season saw him emerge from the shadows of fellow draftees LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, making a notable impact during the playoffs. He joined a select group of rookies—alongside Jordan, Stephon Marbury, and Billy Ray Bates—who led their teams in both scoring and assists during the postseason. His first playoff game was marked by a crucial shot with 1.3 seconds remaining, securing a win for the Heat against the New Orleans Hornets.
Wade continued to shine in the playoffs, particularly against the top-seeded Indiana Pacers. Despite the Heat’s struggles in the series, Wade’s resilience helped push it to a six-game showdown. Notably, in Game 3, Wade’s 14 points in the final quarter, including a remarkable dunk over Jermaine O’Neal, were pivotal in keeping the Heat competitive.
Despite initial skepticism when he was first drafted, Wade demonstrated a remarkable knack for dismantling one of the NBA’s premier defenses and creating scoring opportunities not only for himself but also for his teammates.
“I thought I was coming for MJ,” Wade reminisced about his early career aspirations. “I was convinced I was going to be the greatest. I realized this very early in my career, even by the end of my rookie season during the playoffs against the Pacers. Ron Artest, who was known as the best defender in the league, couldn’t stop me, and I knew I was faster than him.”
Wade tried to play through his injuries, but the Heat struggled in his absence. The team that had just won the championship soon found itself stumbling into the playoffs, where they were swept in the first round by the Chicago Bulls. During the 2009 season, Wade battled ongoing knee issues, a year after being a contender for the MVP award.
Aside from his initial season with LeBron James, Wade was often plagued by injuries, missing games and requiring knee injections to play. Although the Heat won decisively against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals, they barely secured the following year’s championship against San Antonio.
Wade’s diminishing performance was evident in LeBron’s final season with the Heat, leading to LeBron’s departure. Wade later reflected on his last years in the league, describing them as painful and unbearable for his body.
Wade highlighted his most memorable moment from the NBA 75 photoshoot as the moment Michael Jordan entered the room: “When he walked in, everything changed.”
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