Coming in at number three on my list of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history is a man who spent almost his entire career wearing that exact number: Dwyane Wade.
For more than a decade, Wade was the face of Miami basketball. He could score, facilitate, defend, attack the rim and completely take over games when his team needed him most. By the time he retired, Wade had built a résumé that included three championships, a Finals MVP and one of the greatest individual Finals performances the NBA has ever seen.
From Marquette to Miami
The Miami Heat selected Wade with the fifth overall pick in the legendary 2003 NBA Draft, a class that also included LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. It didn’t take Wade long to establish himself.
By his second season, he was already an NBA All-Star, averaging 24.1 points, 6.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game while helping Miami reach the Eastern Conference Finals. But his true arrival came one year later.
The 2006 NBA Finals
If you want to understand why Dwyane Wade ranks among the greatest shooting guards ever, go back and look at what he did in the 2006 NBA Finals.
Miami lost the first two games against the Dallas Mavericks and suddenly found itself staring at a 2-0 deficit. Then Wade took over.
He scored 42 points in Game 3, leading Miami to its first victory of the series. He followed that with 36 points in Game 4, 43 points in Game 5 and another 36 points in Game 6. Miami won four consecutive games to capture the first championship in franchise history.
Wade averaged an incredible 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for the series and was named NBA Finals MVP. He was only 24 years old.
Plenty of superstars spend their entire careers chasing the type of postseason moment that defines their legacy. Wade had his before his 25th birthday.
An Incredible Individual Peak
As great as Wade was during that championship run, his best individual regular season arguably came a few years later. During the 2008-09 season, Wade averaged 30.2 points, 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
He won the NBA scoring title and finished third in MVP voting.
Wade’s athleticism made him one of the most dangerous guards in basketball. His first step was explosive, he was relentless attacking the rim, and his ability to finish around bigger defenders made him incredibly difficult to stop.
But Wade was also an excellent defender. Despite standing around 6-foot-4, he became one of the greatest shot-blocking guards in NBA history. His combination of steals, blocks and overall defensive instincts made him a problem on both ends of the court.
The Big Three
Wade had already delivered Miami its first championship, but the next chapter of his career helped turn the Heat into one of the defining teams of the 2010s.
In 2010, LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Wade in Miami, creating the famous Big Three. Wade had been the franchise superstar for years, but he was willing to sacrifice touches and eventually accept a smaller offensive role as LeBron became the centerpiece of the team.
The results speak for themselves. Miami reached the NBA Finals four consecutive times from 2011 through 2014 and won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
Wade now had three rings. And while the later championships came with LeBron leading the way, Wade’s willingness to adapt was essential to making those teams work.
A Miami Heat Legend
Wade finished his career as a 13-time NBA All-Star, eight-time All-NBA selection, three-time All-Defensive selection, scoring champion, three-time NBA champion and Finals MVP. He was later selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, cementing his place among the greatest players in league history.
His impact in Miami goes even further. Wade retired as the Heat’s all-time leader in numerous major categories and became the defining player of the franchise. Before the Big Three, before the back-to-back championships and before Miami became one of basketball’s premier destinations, Wade was the superstar who brought the city its first NBA title.
Three championships. One Finals MVP. One scoring title. Thirteen All-Star selections. And one unforgettable career wearing number three.
Dwyane Wade takes the #3 spot on my list of the five greatest shooting guards in NBA history.
Sometimes the number just fits.
Next up: #2 Kobe Bryant.
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