Dwyane Wade is the anti LeBron -- Why thats a good thing

[Clutch]

i dont agree with everything but its still a good read

 

I first took notice of Dwyane Wade during his introduction to the collective basketball consciousness during his remarkable run in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. He recorded only the fourth triple-double in NCAA Tourney history on his way to locking up the Midwest Region MVP trophy and carrying his Marquette Eagles to its first Final Four berth in 26 years. These accolades alone cemented D-Wade’s place as best to ever don a Marquette jersey (despite what a rather deranged and otherwise comedically challenged Doc Rivers might have to say about the topic). Am I a little overzealous in bestowing that honor upon him? Not likely. Wade is the only athlete in Marquette history to have his jersey retired without first having graduated from the institution.

 

 

 

All of that is great, but none of it is what impressed me most about this kid. What impressed me most was an interview he conducted during a game that followed one of his own back in 2003. The commentators had already spoken about how Wade, just a junior in college at the time (despite having only played college basketball for two seasons due to a failure to meet eligibility requirements as a freshman), already had a son and was—get this—a married man. He then further impressed me by showing a huge amount of maturity while being interviewed. I didn’t know if his overall game would translate to a successful NBA career, but I knew that the young man from Chicago had my respect—certainly as a ballplayer—but more importantly as a human being.

 

Star-divide

 

Fast forward to present day, and Dwyane Wade is certainly about to get his due. Along with LeBron James, D-Wade’s decision on whether to remain a member of his current team or to try his luck elsewhere will shape the landscape of the entire League for the better part of the next decade. The second-tier free agents (including everyone from Chris Bosh to David Lee) will have to make decisions based on whether or not they want to try to build a Championship-caliber team with LeBron and/or Dwyane or if they want to try their luck elsewhere. These two megastars certainly have that in common. They also have in common six consecutive All Star Game appearances, increased scoring averages in each of their first three seasons, a Scoring Title apiece, multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive Team selections, at least one All Star Game MVP, an NBA Finals appearance, and a gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

 

 

 

For all there similarities, LeBron James has one thing D-Wade might covet (an MVP trophy), and Wade has two things the perhaps prematurely anointed "King" James certainly covets (a Championship Ring and a Finals MVP trophy). Prognosticators will cite the fact that Dwyane was teamed with a motivated and still somewhat dominant Shaquille O’Neal when he was fortunate enough to hoist that Larry O’Brien Trophy over his head and that LeBron has never had the luxury of a worthy running mate. Let me be clear: LeBron James willed the Cavaliers to the Finals in 2007 with a subpar supporting cast. Since then—particularly over the past two seasons—James’ teammates have been nothing to sneeze at. Let me also be clear about this: Wade benefitted from playing with a motivated (at the time) Shaq, but—and Heat fans remember this well—down 2-0 to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 Finals and seemingly dead in the water late in Game 3, Dwyane Wade took over that series. Wade had help, but without his performances, Shaq would have been swept out of the Finals for the first time in his post Orlando Magic career.

 

 

 

The two also differ in another all important area: Maturity. LeBron James is a special basketball player—perhaps the most special player I’ve seen with my own two eyes in my lifetime. I don’t take that lightly because I’ve seen the likes of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Kobe Bryant just to name a few, but James is a physical and athletic specimen who can dominate the boxscore as well as leave his fingerprints all over a game in areas that never show up on a stat sheet, but his maturity level and his professionalism have become an issue for the young star. From not shaking hands with Dwight Howard after the Orlando Magic derailed the hopes of a Kobe Bryant/LeBron James headlined NBA Finals matchup and subsequently shunning the media a year ago to his childish antics over this past summer with "Dunkgate" to him forcing an entire city and a franchise to hold their breath to see what he’ll do this summer in free agency, to flat out seeming disinterested in the pivotal Game 5 of his team’s 2nd Round matchup with Boston in these Playoffs, his recent antics have left major questions about his character.

 

 

 

I’ll cut LeBron a little slack because he’s still a kid. He doesn’t turn 26 until near the end of this calendar year. Had James gone to college a full four years, he’d only currently be in his third season as a pro. The problem with cutting him slack is that the two-time defending MVP of the League is emerging as the face of the NBA, and up until his rather abrupt exit from last year’s Playoffs, Lebron James had been a nothing if not a model citizen. Dwyane Wade, on the other hand, has been a different story. He has seemingly taken everything in stride. He got a taste of the Playoffs as a rookie and emerged as the unquestioned leader of that team. With the exception of the 2007-2008 campaign in which nagging shoulder and knee injuries caused the organization to shut him down for the second half of that season, he has led his team back to the Playoffs each year. The entire roster has changed around him—going from being chock full of talent to capitalize on an extremely small Championship window to being chock full of band-aid players needed to simply fill out the roster in anticipation of the upcoming free agent class—but D-Wade has remained the same. He has been a class act the entire way. The season Dwyane put together statistically a year ago was among the best in League history, but a lack of substantial help all but eliminated him from serious MVP consideration.

 

 

 

Knowing that this season was merely a formality in anticipation of the Summer of 2010, Wade could have easily taken his foot off the gas and made sure he was healthy for his big payday. Instead, he put up numbers that are only slightly less impressive than those of a year ago. Without his superhuman efforts, this Miami Heat team would have lost at least ten more games than they did—landing them in the Lottery yet again. After putting up ridiculous numbers against a Boston Celtic team that still bested him in the first three games of Round One, Wade could have packed it in. Did he? Not a chance. He dug deep and came up with an elimination game performance for the ages to will his team to an it’s-all-about-pride win in Game 4. Even though he was visibly exhausted in Game 5, you never had the idea that D-Wade wasn’t fully invested in any of the games or giving his all. Despite recent personal offcourt issues, Wade has never (that I have seen) handled himself in a manner that reflects badly on his character.

 

 

 

With LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers facing elimination tonight, his fans simply don’t know what kind of effort they will get from their star. For all the promise his athletic ability and skill James has, his performance tonight will be an unfortunate question mark until tipoff later tonight. Heat fans never have to worry about that with Dwyane Wade. Attribute it to Wade being almost three full years James’ senior. Attribute it to D-Wade not being on the NBAs radar until that Final Four run at Marquette in 2003. Attribute it to Dwyane appreciating the game because he has had the game taken away from him on several occasions. Whatever it can be attributed to, I’m appreciative of him for what he does on the court and for how he carries himself off it. Thanks, Dwyane Wade, for being someone we can be proud of—and for not being LeBron James.

 

http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/2010/5/13/1470463/dwyane-wade-is-the-anti-lebronwhy

[ExplosiveScoring]

What Wade has been dealing with these past 2 seasons

 

http://www.slamdumb.com/images/comics/3_30_09.jpg

[Zolor23]

LOL @ Rose

[Cleveland's Finest]

LeBron dealt with that in his first few seasons whereas D-Wade began his career playing with the likes of Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Shaq, etc....the tables have turned is all. Don't act like LeBron didn't have this when he started playing.

[Clutch]

LeBron dealt with that in his first few seasons whereas D-Wade began his career playing with the likes of Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Shaq, etc....the tables have turned is all. Don't act like LeBron didn't have this when he started playing.

 

im not..for the most part lebron still has it lol...his team underachieves while wade's overachieves

[ExplosiveScoring]

Let's be honest here, Wade's teammates aren't chokers like LeBron's. Mo Williams? Massive vagina that only shows up in the regular season. Big Z? One of the worst, if not the worst post defender in the league. Sadly those have been his two best teammates in Cleveland.

 

Not to mention you give him a [expletive]ty coach, though to be honest Spolestra is much worse.

[Klashnekoff]

Dwyane Wade is better player then Lebron James.

 

This is fact. The only other player better is Kobe Bryant. Why Lebron is the headliner of the FA is beyond me, Wade is true star to have in the FA.

[Ben]

So Kobe is better than Wade and lebron? a guy who shots below 50% in his whole career? the only Playoff Finals MVP who shots Below 50%? Just like Tim, Kobe when drafted took the easy path, he was traded to a LAL team who in the same year acquired a PRIME shaq, tbh, its all bcoz of shaq that kobe got his 3 other rings, theres no way in hell, that he'll have 3-peat only by himself. in the 00-03 lakers, LAL without shaq(when injured) in every game LAL's record was More Loses than wins, while only shooting below 45%, and averging only 101ppg, now, when LAL without Kobe(injured) and Shaq carries the team,there record is More Wins than Loses, they shoot more than 50%, and avrg more than 110ppg.

 

Its a complete joke if kobe is better than LBJ or DW, p.s Lebron,Stockton,Malone are the only 3 guys who were announced in the TOP 10 Best NBA Fantasy Players of ALL-TIME, and your [expletive]ing right, the three of them haven't got rings, Stockton Was in 8 i think, Malone Was in 7th, and Lebron in 6th,And he's Just 26'ish Y/o,NO RING. And what happen to Bill Russell? He has 12 Rings, Highest all-time in NBA, And guess what? He's Not Even In the Top 10. Oh, Kobe's Not even Mentioned there btw. Ovbiously, Rings don't matter, its only a symbol of accomplishment that you achieve along with your team. not just because he's often compared to mj and won 3 consecutive rings(which is obviously coz of shaq and the supporting cast). Im not saying Kobe's not good , and im not a kobe hater either, just telling the truth, coz i got enough of this jokes that kobe is one of the top 5 players of the NBA(All-time,) like are you kidding me ?!

 

Kobe's nothing but a hero wannabe, And just wants to make a name for himself, he always wants to be the hero, is a ball-hog, i remembered his Airball Gamewinning attempt which is obviously a fail just like Kwame brown, and also Gasol's Gamewinner, which was obviously kobe Shot Attempt But Thank God Gasol was there to get the rebound and tip it in.

 

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And ON TOPIC: If your Talking on All-Around Play, D-Wade Being Better Than LBJ is a Complete Joke.

[Real Deal]

Haha.

[Check my Stats]

LBJ is better than Wade, it isn't even a discussion to be honest. I like Wade better, he is all business, but LeBron is definitely the superior basketball player... his old Cavalier teams that went to the finals was worse than the Heat team this year.

 

Wade is the one who should be going to Chicago, not LeBron, unfortunately he is far too loyal to the Heat for some reason.

[Flash]

unfortunately he is far too loyal to the Heat for some reason.

 

http://imagecache.allposters.com/images/pic/PHO/AAHE097_8x10~Dwyane-Wade-With-MVP-And-2006-Finals-Trophies-Posters.jpg

 

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2008/writers/steve_aschburner/03/11/tanking/p1.heat.jpg

[NomarFachix]

I've said this before, it is frightening how good Lebron would be with a coach of Riley or Phil Jackson's status.

[Hawks Fly High]

So Kobe is better than Wade and lebron? a guy who shots below 50% in his whole career? the only Playoff Finals MVP who shots Below 50%? Just like Tim, Kobe when drafted took the easy path, he was traded to a LAL team who in the same year acquired a PRIME shaq, tbh, its all bcoz of shaq that kobe got his 3 other rings, theres no way in hell, that he'll have 3-peat only by himself. in the 00-03 lakers, LAL without shaq(when injured) in every game LAL's record was More Loses than wins, while only shooting below 45%, and averging only 101ppg, now, when LAL without Kobe(injured) and Shaq carries the team,there record is More Wins than Loses, they shoot more than 50%, and avrg more than 110ppg.

 

Its a complete joke if kobe is better than LBJ or DW, p.s Lebron,Stockton,Malone are the only 3 guys who were announced in the TOP 10 Best NBA Fantasy Players of ALL-TIME, and your [expletive]ing right, the three of them haven't got rings, Stockton Was in 8 i think, Malone Was in 7th, and Lebron in 6th,And he's Just 26'ish Y/o,NO RING. And what happen to Bill Russell? He has 12 Rings, Highest all-time in NBA, And guess what? He's Not Even In the Top 10. Oh, Kobe's Not even Mentioned there btw. Ovbiously, Rings don't matter, its only a symbol of accomplishment that you achieve along with your team. not just because he's often compared to mj and won 3 consecutive rings(which is obviously coz of shaq and the supporting cast). Im not saying Kobe's not good , and im not a kobe hater either, just telling the truth, coz i got enough of this jokes that kobe is one of the top 5 players of the NBA(All-time,) like are you kidding me ?!

 

Kobe's nothing but a hero wannabe, And just wants to make a name for himself, he always wants to be the hero, is a ball-hog, i remembered his Airball Gamewinning attempt which is obviously a fail just like Kwame brown, and also Gasol's Gamewinner, which was obviously kobe Shot Attempt But Thank God Gasol was there to get the rebound and tip it in.

 

--------

 

And ON TOPIC: If your Talking on All-Around Play, D-Wade Being Better Than LBJ is a Complete Joke.

 

 

 

 

 

either you are a kobe hater or your ride lebrons dick all night. Kobe by no means "rode shaq to his 3 peat." As shaq said himself kobe is the best player in the game right now. No way Shaq got him those 3 rings when he average 29, 7, and 6 in one year. Even last year when Mickael Pietrus of the Magic was asked who was the best player in the game he said kobe bryant. Pietrus defended both lebron and him. He defended a prime young lebron, and an "old washed out kobe" Kobe is definetly a top 10 right now and by the end of his career if he can grab 2 or 3 more rings he can be argued as top 3. If you bring up the one airball he did i think you gotta be neglecting the 6 he made this year which i believe is a record. Selective amnesia is it?

 

Also Dwayne Wade is a better playmaker than Lebron James just saying. Averaging 1 assist less than lebron with a team of scrubs like he does is pretty impressive while Lebrons team is full of shooters and decent big men

[Check my Stats]

I've said this before, it is frightening how good Lebron would be with a coach of Riley or Phil Jackson's status.

 

Honestly that is a good point.

[Big Penny]

So Kobe is better than Wade and lebron? a guy who shots below 50% in his whole career? the only Playoff Finals MVP who shots Below 50%? Just like Tim, Kobe when drafted took the easy path, he was traded to a LAL team who in the same year acquired a PRIME shaq, tbh, its all bcoz of shaq that kobe got his 3 other rings, theres no way in hell, that he'll have 3-peat only by himself. in the 00-03 lakers, LAL without shaq(when injured) in every game LAL's record was More Loses than wins, while only shooting below 45%, and averging only 101ppg, now, when LAL without Kobe(injured) and Shaq carries the team,there record is More Wins than Loses, they shoot more than 50%, and avrg more than 110ppg.

 

Its a complete joke if kobe is better than LBJ or DW, p.s Lebron,Stockton,Malone are the only 3 guys who were announced in the TOP 10 Best NBA Fantasy Players of ALL-TIME, and your [expletive]ing right, the three of them haven't got rings, Stockton Was in 8 i think, Malone Was in 7th, and Lebron in 6th,And he's Just 26'ish Y/o,NO RING. And what happen to Bill Russell? He has 12 Rings, Highest all-time in NBA, And guess what? He's Not Even In the Top 10. Oh, Kobe's Not even Mentioned there btw. Ovbiously, Rings don't matter, its only a symbol of accomplishment that you achieve along with your team. not just because he's often compared to mj and won 3 consecutive rings(which is obviously coz of shaq and the supporting cast). Im not saying Kobe's not good , and im not a kobe hater either, just telling the truth, coz i got enough of this jokes that kobe is one of the top 5 players of the NBA(All-time,) like are you kidding me ?!

LMFAO. your using a top 10 FANTASY players list as your argument?!??!?!?!?!?! :lol: :lol: :lol: sounds like something a 6 year old would post on a youtube video

 

btw, Wade and Bron shoot below 50% for their career.