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Bum knee to Legendary: Ranking all of Dwyane Wade’s NBA Finals performances

By Brennan Sims

Jun 16, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives between San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Tim Duncan (21) during the second quarter of game five in the 2013 NBA Finals at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 16, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives between San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Tim Duncan (21) during the second quarter of game five in the 2013 NBA Finals at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dwyane Wade (L) of the Miami Heat throws past Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericksduring game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 7, 2011 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat 86-83. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Dwyane Wade (L) of the Miami Heat throws past Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericksduring game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 7, 2011 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat 86-83. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. 2011 vs Dallas Mavericks

Stats: 26.5 PPG, 54.6 FG%, 7.0 REB, 5.2 AST, 1.5 STL, 1.5 BLK

Wade was a man on a mission in the 2011 Finals. After being eliminated in the first round in three straight playoff appearances, it was time to get back to that championship level. The Heat did not lose this series because of Dwyane Wade.

Wade was basically putting up 27, 7 and 5 on a game-to-game basis while making nearly 55% of his shots. This was his most efficient Final series as he sliced and diced his way to the basket. Game 2 was one of the best games of Wade’s playoff career — 36 points on 65% shooting is next-level stuff. Wade was still in his prime and his first step, not yet effected by his knee, was second to none.

He had a great case as the best player in this series. 2023 Hall of Fame classmate, Dirk Nowitzki, was named Finals MVP after Dallas beat Miami in six games. Wade had the better counting stats and a higher True Shooting percentage (61.4 to 53.7), but Dirk had great clutch moments in the series.

A player on the losing team has been named Finals MVP one time. Jerry West did it back in 1969, the inaugural year for the award. Though Wade was spectacular, it was a steep hill to climb to grab this award for the second time. This wasn’t the first time he outplayed Dirk in a Finals matchup…

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