Speaking on ‘The OGs’ podcast, former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague revealed his list of the NBA’s all-time best shooting guards. Surprisingly, James Harden was ranked third on the list and he went to great lengths to defend his position.
“I think James Harden is the number three shooting guard of All-Time,” said Teague. “Just like watching his game, going against him, competing against him, it was a real-life scheme. You had to scheme for Dwyane Wade, too, but James Harden, when he was by himself in Houston, they were going to the WCF, averaging 35, 8, and 8… he was unguardable. No offense to DWade but before LeBron got to Miami, y’all were competing with us (the Hawks).”
James Harden may not be what he once was, but the 10x All-Star was an MVP with the Rockets, and he made history as he led them to the Western Conference Finals year after year. During his best stretch, he averaged 36.1 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game on 44% shooting.
While he never won a title with the Rockets, he came pretty close several times before being beaten by Stephen Curry’s Warriors at the height of their dynasty. Eventually, Harden left the team and his game has never been the same since.
Even so, James’ skills as a scorer and playmaker were enough to go toe-to-toe with the best in the world and it seems his game made a strong impression on many who witnessed. As for Dwyane Wade, most fans would still have Wade in the top three, but that may start to change depending on how Harden closes out his career.
Dwyane Wade’s Legacy Without LeBron James
While Wade is remembered today as a 3x champion and 13x All-Star, most of his success is tied with LeBron James, who stopped by for a brief four-year stint that brought the Heat two championships in four straight Finals appearances.
Before LeBron’s arrival in the summer of 2010, Wade was able to win a championship with Shaquille O’Neal in 2006 and he showed the world that he could lead his own team to a title. But in the years that followed, the Heat were mostly irrelevant and desperately looking for ways to compete.
The creation of the “big three” in 2010 changed the trajectory of the franchise, and Wade’s career, who was already nearing the end of his prime. Even so, the sacrifices he made in that stretch allowed the Heat to maximize their potential and his willingness to become the secondary option allowed him to flourish alongside LeBron James.
Today, while Wade’s numbers and accolades may not quite match up to some of the best, they certainly look good compared to James Harden, who has yet to prove himself in the postseason.
With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the Clippers, this could be the year that he finally has a breakthrough in the West and adds that illustrious ring to his resume. But until he does, fans will always be reluctant to put him above Dwyane Wade, who delivered in every way when the Heat needed him the most.
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