Dwyane Wade is undoubtedly the greatest player in Miami Heat history, yet he believes that if not for injuries, he would be in the conversation as the greatest of all time (GOAT) alongside Michael Jordan.
In the 21st century, few players have been better than Heat legend Dwyane Wade. The 13-time All-Star epitomized what it means to be a franchise player. He evolved into not only an elite athlete but also a leader known for his unselfishness. Wade kept a clean off-court record and was renowned for his unparalleled work ethic.
Wade is among the top 10 players of this century, despite injuries frequently impacting his prime. This is a point of frustration for the 42-year-old, as he mentioned on the “7 PM in Brooklyn” podcast, co-hosted by Carmelo Anthony. Wade suggested that injuries prevented him from reaching the same level of greatness as Michael Jordan.
“They don’t understand my game. You don’t know what I did. I did so many things and played so many different roles,” Wade explained. “That’s one of the reasons why I’m not the greatest shooter of all time, but I was great at so many different things. Then I learned how to be great at being a role player. I learned how to be great at all these things so nobody knows how to break down my game.
“So they look over it and go to one or two things, but I did so many things. Before injuries, I’m like, ‘MJ, I’m coming for you.’ That’s my mentality. I thought I was coming for MJ and I’m going to be the greatest because I figured it out very early in my career.”
Wade raises a compelling point. It’s intriguing to consider how many records the three-time NBA champion might have shattered if he had remained healthier. Nonetheless, he remains the GOAT of one of the NBA’s most respected franchises, the Miami Heat.
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