OT - Did Dwayne Wade just go from "NBA Great" to "NBA Legend"?

Submitted by samgoblue on

Does this bump Dwayne Wade into the upper echelon of NBA players?  Inasmuch as he had a hand in recruiting Lebron to Miami, has a player ever done so much for a franchise?

Kal

July 8th, 2010 at 9:52 PM ^

I'd compare it more to NBA Nick Saban then NBA Legend. Besides have you ever been to Miami? You don't really need to convince people who have a lot of money that'd its way more fun then Cleveland.

jrt336

July 8th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^

He definitely isn't a legend yet. If he retired today he wouldn't be a HOFer. Without Jordan, the Bulls don't win all those championships. Let's see how many titles the Heat have won in 2015 before we make ridiculous statements. He's a top 5 player right now, but he still has a ways to go.

hailtothevictors08

July 8th, 2010 at 10:02 PM ^

but lebron is better and younger ...

he is too phyiscally gifted where as wade might get injured at any point ...

ugg i have hated the heat since those detroit series and will continue to do so ... i have a feeling the nba wont be fun to watch for the next few yrs ... though how the heat plan to rebound and d up dhoward is beyond me

Zone Read Left

July 8th, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^

A bunch of people who have hated him since the rape incident will become Kobe fans again and root for him to take down the superHeat. And if the Lakers beat the Heat in the finals next year, Kobe's legacy gets even better.

sterling1213

July 9th, 2010 at 1:41 PM ^

I don't think people who don't like him over the rape/ cheating on his wife incident will automatically cheer for him because they dislike the heat.  I am not sure why you would hate the heat because three good players decided to play for one team.  And,  where was all this hate twords the celtics when they did the same thing with KG/Pierce/Allen?

TheLastHarbaugh

July 8th, 2010 at 11:59 PM ^

Charles Barkley is the most important voice in sports. He also belongs to a select group of human beings who can say whatever the fuck they want without consequence, and I love him for it.

Also....

I think we can safely say there will never be another Charles Barkley (in terms of personality, let alone a 6'4'' power forward who strikes fear in the hearts of virtually every team he played against and won an MVP). Shut em down Chuck, shut em down.

Black Socks

July 8th, 2010 at 10:32 PM ^

Wade was given the title from Stern.  The Mavs earned it and were robbed, even more than CWebb in 2002.  NBA is WWF.

M-Wolverine

July 8th, 2010 at 10:56 PM ^

At the time, Wade was the most manufactured Superstar in League history. He got insane Jordan like foul calls against Detroit and Dallas. Before he had proven himself deserving of those kinda calls. Just look at his FT count. He's earned his status now, but at the time the League was panicked over starless teams taking over the NBA after the ratings snoozer of defensive basketball between the Pistons and Spurs.

mejunglechop

July 8th, 2010 at 11:34 PM ^

Seriously? You're saying Wade only became a superstar because he got superstar calls before he earned them, but now those calls are legitimate, even though you're saying his superstar status was manufactured, not earned. Not only is that incredibly convoluted, but it also implies a grand conspiracy theory. I don't really know what to say except that I think you're seriously misguided.

M-Wolverine

July 9th, 2010 at 12:40 AM ^

I'm saying, as wrong as it may be, Superstars get protected in the NBA. But most have to earn it first. Jordan always played by different rules, but he also spent years getting the crap knocked out of him before he started getting the he was breathed on, send him to the line calls. Wade wasn't anywhere near that level back then, hadn't paid his dues, and might not have been the best player on his team, but was getting calls that even MJ would be going "really? That's a foul?". Look at the number of FT he shot. If you think it's just because the Pistons are rough and tumble, explain it against the charmin like Mavs. There was a dreary of star power after the Lakers broke up, so they elevated him before his time, and before he deserved it. I was just acknowledging that he has become one of the great players in the NBA (but no where near one of the best of all time), but wasn't back then. And if you don't think the NBA has had some hinky officiating, you haven't been paying attention.

In reply to by M-Wolverine

TheLastHarbaugh

July 9th, 2010 at 12:47 AM ^

The NBA really needs to go back to the late 80s, early 90s style of officiating. It made MJ's feats that much more impressive, the fact that teams would ruthlessly go after him and attempt to destroy him, and yet he still hung 40 in their face. G.O.A.T. Period, end of story. 

For all of you too young to remember... This is what the NBA used to look like....

In reply to by M-Wolverine

mejunglechop

July 9th, 2010 at 2:10 AM ^

As a Heat fan, I watched every game of the series and so I'm completely blown away that you think he might not have been the best player on the Heat that year. Shaq averaged something like 15 and 8 against the Mavs, so who was arguably better? Antoine Walker? Udonis Haslem? Those are the options, and that was his supporting cast. Superstar calls or not (Wade was 2nd team All NBA the year before), the Heat had no business being on the same court as the Mavs and Wade singlehandedly won them that series. I've never seen anything like it- Jordan might have been able to do it, but he always had a better supporting cast. The other thing is that Wade should be getting more FTs than other players, he has limited range, his whole game is getting to the hole.

briangoblue

July 9th, 2010 at 1:28 AM ^

Wade got some ridiculous calls, but he also hit a ton of the kind of clutch shots that made Lebron run to South Beach for his help. That guy is fearless. After watching how all this went down, I was reminded of Shaq calling Wade "Michael Corleone." I feel like he orchestrated the whole thing, with Riles in the background making offers people couldn't refuse.

neoavatara

July 8th, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^

was living in Sacramento (or Detroit?), then it would have been a coup.  

South Beach sells itself.  Women, parties, water, and no state tax.  What else could you ask for?

Zone Left

July 8th, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^

I don't follow the NBA, but haven't Kobe, Shaq, and Duncan done more just among current players?  The team still hasn't won a game dude.

BigBlue02

July 8th, 2010 at 11:18 PM ^

I love it. Apparently, Wade, Bosh, and Lebron are goint to win a championship. Don't mind the fact they have no center or point guard and they have -15 million to sign them with. They can get anyone they want for under 200k. They have to trade away Beasly just to make this work and those 3 have one other player...that is right, one player on the roster other than those 3 max salaries.....and they are going to do some damage. Miami better hope they each play 48 minutes a game. I am going to be at PG next year because I am all they can afford.

TheLastHarbaugh

July 8th, 2010 at 11:23 PM ^

LeBron will play point, and will be the best point guard in the NBA. 

Bosh has also been playing center for the Raptors for the past 7 years, and has managed to put up enough numbers to earn a max deal, and to be coveted by half of the teams in the NBA.

They can also sign as many veterans as they want for the league minimum, even if it puts them over the cap.

BigBlue02

July 9th, 2010 at 12:31 AM ^

Lebron and DWade do the same thing - drive and dish. Neither one is looked at as a spot up shooter, so both of them can keep driving and dishing to each other. Great. I would also like for you to name me all of the amazing players they are going to go after with their veteran minimum money they have. Please, feel free to tell me that 3 guys and 0 bench will win them anything. I shudder when I think of the crap they are going to put around those 3 in Miami.