Dwyane Wade is considered one of the greatest shooting guards of all time, behind Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Wade was a phenomenal talent, someone who would dominate the NBA with his slashing and ferocious play. But Wade struggled when being compared to another great shooting guard.
During an interview with Shannon Sharpe, Dwyane Wade talked about the idea of being compared to Kobe Bryant. The comparisons started after his first season with Shaquille O’Neal, but Wade was not welcoming the comparisons.
“I didn’t like (the comparisons to Kobe). No. I don’t want that. I didn’t want that smoke. Kobe had 3 rings, he’s 24 years old. He got 3 rings. I played the way I played because I watched Jordan, Iverson, and Kobe. Don’t put me there yet, I’m 2 years in the league… I’m a kid like I still secretly want Kobe’s autograph at this time. I don’t even want to push up on him too much, I don’t know.”
“And so, as I was trying to find my footing in the league, they’re now pinning me with one of my favorite players, a guy that I only played once the year before. This is inner beef that I don’t even know that’s there, that I didn’t cause, that the media has caused… ‘Oh, y’all think he next? I’m going to show you’. That’s Kobe”.
(From 1:04:11 mark)
Wade added: “What it did do, it fast-tracked me… He has to look at me as an equal. Not saying that he thinks I’m on his level. But he has to get some sleep the night before he plays, he has to guard me, he has to pick me up 94 feet, whatever it is, I need that respect from him.”
Dwyane Wade Surpassed Low Expectations Placed On Him
Despite consistently being compared to Kobe and being uncomfortable with it, Wade held his own against Bryant. In his 20 career games against Kobe, he averaged 24.3 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.6 rebounds, showing that he could go against one of the greatest players ever.
During the same interview, Wade was asked to re-draft the top stars from 2003. He claimed that he should have gone to Denver, with LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony being drafted ahead of him. He maintained that Chris Bosh would still go to Toronto, as he was the 4th overall pick regardless.
Dwyane Wade was drafted 5th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. But he went on to become a superstar in the league. In fact, Wade was the first player among the stars of the 2003 Draft class to win the NBA championship, doing so in 2006.
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