We all knew he would make it, but now it is finally official. The last 25 players were announced to the NBA’s list of the 75 greatest players in NBA history.
Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade was among those named last night. Wade was also joined on the team by some of his former Heat teammates – LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal.
The list is unranked, but if it were to be, where would Dwyane Wade stack up against the best 75 players to ever step on an NBA court? Let’s review his resume, and decide where he should rank.
Where would Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade rank amongst the top 75 NBA players of all time?
Wade was a three-time NBA champion, winning all three in Miami. In 2006, he won the Finals MVP award, averaging 34.7 points per game as a 24-year-old.
He was an Olympic Gold Medalist in 2008, and a scoring champion in 2009, averaging 30.2 points in that season. Wade is the all-time leader in points and assists for the Miami Heat and has 13 All-Star selections as a member of the team.
Although he never won an MVP in his career, there were several seasons where Wade came close to winning the award. Still, it is probably the one and only achievement missing from his Hall-of-Fame resume.
Based on all of that, where does he rank all-time? Subjectively, Dwayne Wade should rank somewhere in the 20-30 range. Rank 25 sounds about right.
Wade is one of the top three players of all time at his position and was arguably the greatest shot-blocking guard the league has ever seen. He poured his soul into the city of Miami with his effort every night. With that, he became an NBA legend and champion.
Regardless of where he ranks on the list, Wade is an NBA legend who undoubtedly deserves his spot on the 75th Anniversary Team. He is the greatest player in Miami Heat franchise history. His legacy resonates in the city of Miami to this day.
It is truly an honor to have had such an incredible basketball player like Dwyane Wade play for the Miami Heat. The league isn’t the same without him, but it was nice to see some well-deserved recognition for what he accomplished during his career. Congratulations, Flash!