Speaking on “The OGs” podcast, Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem argued that LeBron James’ 2009 MVP win should have been awarded to Dwyane Wade. According to Haslem, Wade was at his peak that year and held claim to the title of best player in the world.
“We’re talking about a guy who was, at one point, considered the best in the world,” said Haslem. “He could have won the MVP that year, he probably should have won.”
Most fans today remember Wade as the co-pilot during Miami’s “big three” championship days. And while Wade played that role to perfection, history proves that he was capable of being the main man as well.
Before LeBron’s arrival, Wade was one of the top three players in the league, and his performance in 2009 proved it. He averaged 30.2 points per game that year, along with 7.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game on 49% shooting.
Unfortunately for Wade, it wasn’t enough to rank him past third in the MVP voting. LeBron James and Kobe Bryant both beat him with votes and it makes sense when you realize the Heat were 5th in the East that year.
Of course, Wade himself disagrees with the results. Last year, he said he should have won the MVP over LeBron, but he still maintains that it was his best stretch as a player. Even so, was it better than LeBron?
LeBron James Was Unstoppable During First MVP Season
As great as Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant were, LeBron was arguably the most deserving MVP candidate that year. While he was still without a championship, LeBron was at the peak of his powers and managed to lead the Cavaliers to 66 wins with Mo Williams as their second-best player. In 81 games, he averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists.
All season long, despite the rise of Derrick Rose and prolonged dominance from Kobe Bryant, it was LeBron who consistently stole the show, and what he was able to do with that Cavaliers team still surprises people to this day.
While it was just one of several MVPs for James, none were as impressive as the first, and it came at a time when he was still trying to establish himself in the league.
To beat out Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade on the MVP ballot said a lot about LeBron’s game at the time, and it was a message to fans and players alike that his reign was only just getting started.
Fortunately for Wade, while LeBron may have stolen his MVP, he was able to join forces with him not long after the race and it resulted in a period of great prosperity for them both. It’s just a shame that Wade never really got the chance to win the accolade before his retirement and it’s hard to deny that James is responsible for it.
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