- Dwyane Wade won three NBA championships in his career with the Miami Heat
- James Harden and Allen Iverson are the only ones with a regular season MVP trophy to their name
- All three players were nominated to the All-Star Game for a decade
Over the last few months, we have gradually introduced a formula that we developed to more accurately rank NBA legends and current stars in their rightful places on all-time lists. We went position by position, from point guard to center. We applied the same formula to evaluate the GOAT conversation as well. We even used it to compare the careers of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Now, we’ve decided to employ that formula to settle the ongoing debate between three legends of their era.
James Harden and Allen Iverson are two players who left their mark on the NBA during their respective careers. With MVP awards to their names and signature moves that were unstoppable in their time, both modern icons changed the league in their own way and ensured they would be remembered as generational players. However, ahead of them in the rankings might be Dwyane Wade, who may not have garnered as many individual accolades as the other two but is one of the greatest legends in the shooting guard position and retired as one of the most successful players in history with three championship rings.
Best Stats
1. Allen Iverson – 26.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG (3 Points)
2. James Harden – 24.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG (2 Points)
3. Dwyane Wade – 22.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG (1 Point)
Looking at the numbers, Allen Iverson takes the first three points with the highest average in points and steals, as well as being second in career assists per game.
Statistically, Iverson surprisingly still surpasses Harden, who had a scoring peak in Houston that hadn’t been seen in the entire century. However, his years in Oklahoma as a sixth man and his later seasons split between Brooklyn and Philadelphia lowered his averages. Wade played in an era with less scoring overall, but when the NBA picked up its pace again, he had to be the second star behind LeBron James.
Iverson was a first-overall draft pick, so while he didn’t finish his career on a high note, he established himself as a decorated scorer from the beginning, despite his height difference. He remained in the league’s elite for nearly a decade, with his peak in 2001 when he won the MVP and led an underwhelming 76ers team to the NBA Finals.
Most NBA Championships
1. Dwyane Wade – 3 NBA Championships (3 Points)
T2. James Harden – 0 NBA Championships (2 Points)
T2. Allen Iverson – 0 NBA Championships (2 Points)
When it comes to championships, there’s no debate about Dwyane Wade’s greatness.
The iconic Miami Heat shooting guard won the title in 2006 with some of the best individual performances in Finals history. He also formed a formidable trio with LeBron James and Chris Bosh to win titles in 2012 and 2013 against the Thunder and the Spurs.
Harden and Iverson, on the other hand, are two players who often led mediocre teams with their brilliance but lacked the support to reach the Finals and secure a championship ring. Allen Iverson achieved the remarkable feat of reaching the Finals with his Sixers, facing Kobe and Shaq’s Lakers in 2001, but couldn’t offer much resistance in the Lakers’ second consecutive title run. On the other side, Haden lost the 2012 NBA Finals against LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
Most MVP Awards
T1. James Harden – 1 MVP Awards (3 Points)
T1. Allen Iverson – 1 MVP Award (3 Points)
3. Dwyane Wade – 0 MVP Awards (1 Point)
Harden and Iverson may not have had the collective success they desired, although Harden still has a chance to compete for a championship in his remaining time as a professional player. However, both won the MVP award at some point in their careers, which places them ahead of Wade in this category.
Iverson was the MVP of the 2001 season, where Philadelphia relied on his heroic performances to make an unlikely appearance in the NBA Finals against the Lakers.
As for Harden, the Rockets’ All-NBA guard earned his trophy in 2018 after narrowly missing out on the award to Stephen Curry (2015, 2016) and Russell Westbrook (2017), who averaged a triple-double the season after Kevin Durant joined the Golden State Warriors from the OKC Thunder.
Dwyane Wade has never won the MVP award. He was the closest in 2008 when he was third on the list (behind LeBron James and Kobe Bryant), but he was never really a true contender for this award throughout his NBA career.
Most Finals MVP Awards
1. Dwyane Wade – 1 Finals MVP Award (3 Points)
T2. James Harden – 0 Finals MVP Awards (2 Points)
T2. Allen Iverson – 0 Finals MVP Awards (2 Points)
Of the three, only Dwyane Wade won an NBA Finals MVP. It happened in 2006 when the Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in a dramatic series. Wade, in his third year in the NBA, showcased his potential as a superstar, averaging 34.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.7 SPG, and 1.1 BPG in the six games while playing an incredible average of 43 minutes per night.
There’s still time for Harden, though it may be unlikely, given his recent decline from the player he was with the Rockets.
As for Iverson, it’s unfortunate he couldn’t secure a ring and the NBA Finals MVP.
In 2001, when the 76ers faced Kobe and Shaq’s Lakers and lost 4-1, AI averaged 35.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, and 0.8 BPG, including a 48-point game in Game 1 to start the series. While it didn’t prevent the Lakers from winning the next four games, Iverson did his part.
Most All-NBA Team Selections
1. Dwyane Wade – 8 All-NBA Team Selections (3 Points)
T2. James Harden – 7 All-NBA Team Selections (2 Points)
T2. Allen Iverson – 7 All-NBA Team Selections (2 Points)
Once again, D-Wade leads in this category. Flash had three selections to the All-NBA Third Team and three to the All-NBA Second Team during his career. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team twice, in 2009 and 2010, the last year before LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined him in Miami.
James Harden, on the other hand, had six selections to the All-NBA First Team, making him the player with the most appearances in the First Team among the three. In addition to these selections, which occurred in 2014, 2015, and from 2017 to 2020, The Beard earned one selection to the All-NBA Third Team in 2013, his first season with the Houston Rockets after being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Allen Iverson was selected once to the All-NBA Third Team when he earned a spot in 2006. He also made the All-NBA Second Team in 2000, 2002, and 2003, with three selections to the All-NBA First Team in 1999, 2001, and 2005.
Most All-Defensive Team Selections
1. Dwyane Wade – 3 All-Defensive Team Selections (3 Points)
T2. Allen Iverson – 0 All-Defensive Team Selections (2 Points)
T2. James Harden – 0 All-Defensive Team Selections (2 Points)
Dwyane Wade once again takes the lead in the defensive category. Flash was one of the best two-way perimeter defenders in the NBA during his prime, with three selections to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2005, 2009, and 2010. Despite being known for his offensive skills, Wade was also a great defender and one of the players with the most steals of his generation.
Allen Iverson didn’t lag too far behind, despite his shorter stature preventing him from standing out among perimeter defenders. He had a subtle ability to steal the ball from opponents on the front line, which is why he ended up with the best career steals per game average among the three players. On the other hand, James Harden was never an elite defender and appeared less interested in that facet of the game.
Most All-Star Selections
1. Dwyane Wade – 13 All-Star Selections (3 Points)
2. Allen Iverson – 11 All-Star Selections (2 Points)
3. James Harden – 10 All-Star Selections (1 Point)
Dwyane Wade once again dominates this category. Flash made his first All-Star selection in 2005, just his second season in the NBA. He would repeat as an All-Star the following year and win a championship with the Heat. Wade went on to make consecutive All-Star appearances until 2016, representing the Heat in 12 All-Star games. He made his last appearance in 2019, the year he retired.
Allen Iverson had 11 selections, coming close to Wade but falling just short. His first All-Star appearance was in 2000 before he became the league MVP, and he didn’t miss a single All-Star game until his last selection in 2010. As for James Harden, The Beard had a similar trajectory. He made his first All-Star appearance with the Rockets in 2013 and didn’t miss an All-Star Weekend until 2022, when he last participated with 10 selections.
Total Win Shares
1. James Harden – 158.0 Win Shares (3 Points)
2. Dwyane Wade – 120.71 Win Shares (2 Points)
3. Allen Iverson – 98.97 Win Shares (1 Point)
The accumulation of total win shares in a player’s career is a testament to two things: their impact on winning and their longevity as players. James Harden has been very successful in the regular season throughout his career, leading with 158.0 total win shares.
Dwyane Wade follows behind Harden in this regard, with 120.71 total win shares for his career. Despite having a long and successful career in the NBA, which included three championships, some less impressive years with the Heat after LeBron James and Chris Bosh left affected his numbers. Allen Iverson, in contrast, finished further behind in this competition. He struggled to find success with the Philadelphia 76ers, never having a roster that could match his exceptional on-court production. Afterward, AI spent several years moving around the league without the same impact on winning as he once had.
PER (Player Efficiency Rating)
1. James Harden – 24.3 PER (3 Points)
2. Dwyane Wade – 23.5 PER (2 Points)
3. Allen Iverson – 20.9 PER (1 Point)
The career PER is much closer in this category. Harden had some of the best seasons in individual efficiency, particularly during his MVP year in 2018. Wade, who was unquestionably among the top 10 players in the league from 2005 to 2009, came close to the top spot even in seasons when he was no longer an All-Star caliber player. Iverson, on the other hand, lagged in this competition, as was the case with total win shares.
Who Has Had The Greatest NBA Career Out Of Dwyane Wade, James Harden and Allen Iverson?
1. Dwyane Wade – 21 Total Points (5 Categories Won)
2. James Harden – 20 Total Points (3 Categories Won)
3. Allen Iverson – 18 Total Points (2 Categories Won)
These results should not come as a surprise. While Dwyane Wade had a later part of his career where he didn’t achieve many milestones after 2014, his heroic performances with the Miami Heat since being drafted in 2003 propelled him to this position as the winner. With more championships, NBA Finals MVPs, and selections to All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive teams, it’s clear that Flash had a much more decorated career in terms of team success compared to his counterparts.
James Harden, on the other hand, didn’t fall far behind Wade. Once his career took its own path in 2012 when he left the Oklahoma City Thunder to lead the Houston Rockets, Harden blossomed into one of the most unstoppable scorers of the last decade, despite his recent decline from the player he was with the Rockets.
In last place is Allen Iverson, who had a golden era from 2000 to 2006, a much shorter window of dominance in the league than his two opponents. Nevertheless, he left an indelible mark and a unique style that will forever be remembered in the records and culture of the NBA. While his prime wasn’t as long-lasting, his feats captivated audiences, and he will always be a cherished part of basketball history.
