Dwyane Wade says he was coming for the GOAT's throne before injuries

The last few days have featured former Miami Heat superstar and Hall-of-Famer Dwyane Wade in the thick of basketball related headlines. Firstly, in a recent ESPN piece that ranked the top 100 professional athletes of the 21st century, Wade was awarded with the 35th spot overall. With his three-time championship accolades, along with his status as a 13-time All-Star, eight All-NBA and three All-Defensive nods, that notion seems about right.

Wade also led the gold-medal-winning Team USA in scoring back in 2008. He became the Heat’s all-time leader in points, assists, steals and games played. In Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, "7pm in Brooklyn," Wade went as far as comparing himself to arguably the greatest player of all-time in Michael Jordan.

"I’m not the greatest shooter of all time, but I was great at so many different things... No one knows how to really break down my game... Before injuries, I’m like (Michael Jordan). I’m coming for you."

- Dwayne Wade

This shouldn’t be considered a stretch by any fan of the game, considering just how dominant Wade was as a proven player that impacted winning. Knee injuries ultimately slowed down his long term potential on the NBA’s Mount Rushmore. But his greatness was defined as a lethal scorer, averaging between 26-30 points each of his prime seasons. 

Statistically, he was also the top rebounding AND shot blocking guard in history. 

Back in 2006, Wade burst onto the scene as the leading man on a championship team that was still on his rookie contract. He averaged roughly 30.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 60% shooting to will Miami to the franchise’s first ever championship over the Dallas Mavericks.

Wade says he went against ‘The Family’ to team up with LeBron James

During the podcast episode, Wade also discussed going against his team and family in order to create the Big 3 with LeBron James and Chris Bosh in 2010.

"My personality, first of all, just how I am in life, it helps, know what I mean? You got to know who you are and so I knew that my personality, even though I have an alpha personality, also understand how to look at perspective and look on the other side and move to the side. I got that ability to be able to sometimes take a break and look around, and see some people who are so great, they just looking this way and I got the ability to be able to stop and make a different decision. So yeah. Was it tough as hell? Yeah, it was tough but also too, I think I was the perfect person to play that role. There ain't a lot of people that could play that role, that can give, I mean, LeBron [James] is an amazing player, but you got to work around him, to work with him and so as you've seen, the first years we were together, we did everything together. We did every interview together, every press conference, every time you seen him, you seen me because we had to be so lockstep because we knew, I knew everybody was, nobody wanted it. My team didn't want it, my family didn't want it. They were pissed, bro. Team, LeBron team didn't want it. No one wanted that to happen. The game of basketball didn't want to happen. So I made sure I linked myself with LeBron even more because I knew we had to be so tight or it was going to be a failure and I didn't want to be a part of that."

- Dwayne Wade

Over the duration of that era in South Beach, Wade continuously took pay-cuts to help keep the team as competitive as possible. Bringing James and Bosh aboard also came at the sacrifice of former Heat players that Wade built relationships with. All these tough decisions were justified with the team’s success, winning two championships and reaching four NBA Finals in a four-year span.

Dwyane Wade says he views the Heat as a dynasty

"You need consistency. Pat Riley has been there 100,000 years, Heat have that same aura to be a dynasty. Built multiple championship-run teams in three different generations. The Heat is a dynasty to me."

- Dwyane Wade

Another great point is made here by Wade, in the sense that there has been a consistent base built in Miami. In a league where coaching/front office changes are always evolving, it has been an impressive system in Miami over the decades that has remained in place.