- Dwyane Wade was one of the best defensive guards in the Eastern Conference during his career
- He said Rip Hamilton and Ray Allen were the two players he hated defending against the most
- Dwyane Wade claimed Rip Hamilton would use his long nails against defenders during games
Many NBA fans often forget what a defensive beast Dwyane Wade was on the basketball court during his prime. The 3-time champion made it to three All-NBA Defensive Teams during his career, and he could lock down any offensive star.
Dwyane Wade was an elite defender between 2004 and 2010, going up against the likes of Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and even LeBron James at times. But when he revealed the two players he found hardest to guard, none of them made the cut.
“I always go with guys like (Ray) Allen, Rip Hamilton,” Dwyane Wade told Matt Barnes on All The Smoke. “They move, they move. I hated guarding those dudes, especially Rip. Because he had them nails too…
“Rip put them nails in you to start the game, you be like, ‘Rip, this the tip. The game just tipped.’ I hated guarding Rip, I hated guarding Ray, just guys that move constantly.”
Rip Hamilton was a 3-time All-Star during Wade’s time in the league, he averaged 17.1 points per game for his career and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons. Ray Allen and Dwyane Wade faced off 37 times in the NBA too, with Allen’s team coming out on top 21 times after he averaged 18.4 points per game in those matchups.
Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen would eventually become teammates on the Miami Heat, with Ray Allen hitting one of the most clutch shots of all time to help Wade win his third NBA championship. But when they were going at it, Allen gave Wade the business time and time again.
Dwyane Wade’s Take Explains Why He Called Stephen Curry ‘Impossible To Guard’
Ray Allen was considered the greatest shooter ever before Stephen Curry usurped that title. Dwyane Wade was well out of his prime by the time he faced Curry, but if he hated chasing players with movement around, then it explains exactly why he once called the 4-time champion ‘impossible to guard.’
Dwyane Wade was called ‘The Flash’ because of how quick he was, but good offensive movement can cause problems for the greatest athletes. Rip Hamilton and Ray Allen wouldn’t be the first names that come to mind when talking about the greatest offensive guards, but there’s a reason they were champions and All-Stars during their time.
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