If Dwyane Wade never sustained knee injuries, he would have been the second-best shooting guard in the history of the NBA.
People forget how good Wade was early in his career, especially in the post-Shaq and pre-“Big Three” era. Wade suffered nagging knee injuries throughout his career that shortened his prime years. Yet, by many, Wade is the third-greatest shooting guard ever. Wade’s peak was arguably better than Kobe Bryant, who is wildly considered the second-best shooting guard of all time.
Wade had one of the most legendary Finals performances in 2006. From 2006 to 2011, Wade was a top-three player in the league despite being robbed of the 2008-2009 MVP award. Regardless of not being awarded, the statistics speak for themselves. During the 2008-09 season, Wade led the NBA in scoring: total points (2,386) and points per game (30.2).
With the longevity and all the time D-Wade missed with injury, Kobe had the better career, but at their absolute peak, I think Wade has him beat.
When comparing what is considered each players prime years, 2005 to 2011 for Wade and 2001 to 2007 for Bryant, it is obvious that Wade was a better player as outlined below:
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Wade’s achievements as a player were comparable to Kobe Bryant’s, however, because Wade’s prime was shortened due to his knee injuries, we never got to see his full potential. Wade knew with his playing style that his career was not going to age well. His knee troubles began as early as college, and his decision to have knee surgery to rush back to playing for Marquette may have cost him more prime years of his NBA career.
Wade himself acknowledged that his surgery led to the ongoing knee problems he had with the Heat, telling ESPN’s Brian Windhorst in 2013 that if he had a more long-term approach when it came to his 2002 meniscus surgery following his sophomore season at Marquette that he may not have had the knee issues that plagued him toward the end of the Big Three era.
"“My knee problems and the things I’ve dealt with started from that,” Wade said. “That was [11] years ago and technology was different and the way you approach things was different.“At that moment, if everyone looked ahead and said, ‘Dwyane’s going to have a 20-year career, maybe we should do something different,’ maybe I wouldn’t have [knee issues]. At that time it was to get me back on the basketball court and do what is best.”"
If Wade had waited or gotten the correct surgery, maybe the Heat would have given the Spurs a better fight in the 2014 Finals. By then, Wade’s knees were shot and, a year later, LeBron James was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers with a younger Kyrie Irving by his side.
Credit to Wade for still performing at a high level through his prime dealing with these knee injuries. I strongly believe that if Wade’s knees held up longer, he would have had a longer career in the NBA, and may have gotten another ring to show for it.
All of that would have only strengthened his argument for being the second-greatest shooting guard of all time.