Dwyane Wade has gotten underrated by fans in recent memory, but there’s no doubt that he’s one of the best shooting guards to have ever played the game of basketball. He notably won the Finals MVP award at the conclusion of the 2006 NBA Finals, despite him having legendary center Shaquille O’Neal on his team.
Recently, Dwyane Wade has opened up on the players that he has modeled his game after, listing Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Allen Iverson as his inspirations. Wade stated that he thought that molding his game to be similar to those three players was “attainable” for him. (5:19)
“Was I the typical athlete growing like body-wise and game-wise? They probably wouldn’t say ‘Hey, he’s gonna be in the NBA. But I think as I watch a guy and watch a team and watch players that I just admired so much, that I just wanted to go out there and do everything that they did.”
“So I’m a big Jordan guy, which everyone knows. But I was a big Allen Iverson and Kobe guy. Those were my three that I kind of followed and tried to pat my game after, because I thought all of those three different guys’ games was something attainable for me.
When one watches Dwyane Wade play, there are definitely elements of those three players in his game. He had the midrange prowess and athleticism of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan while also being shifty and creative when finishing at the rim like Allen Iverson. Everyone who plays basketball watches players they like and takes parts of their game. It is clear that those players had an impact on Dwyane Wade, and Wade once even called Michael Jordan a “superhero” when talking about the legend’s impact on him.
“I just remember being a kid, and getting the chance to watch somebody that just did everything well. He played basketball, the excitement level, he won, he seemed to be like a tough competitor, vicious. Off the court, the commercials, he just did everything. He had the coolest shoes, he dressed well, he had the perfect smile. It was just like he was a superhero.”
While he based his game on what those greats did on the court, it is clear that Dwyane Wade was a fantastic player in his own right. There’s a reason he managed to win three championships during his time with the Miami Heat, and few have managed to accomplish what he has in the league.
As of right now, though, Dwyane Wade is likely enjoying being a part-governor of the Utah Jazz and his own retirement. There’s no doubt that his legacy in the game is set in stone, and Dwyane Wade is viewed as a legendary shooting guard.
