You cannot write Miami Heat history without bringing in Dwyane Wade‘s name at least a couple of dozen times.
Ever since he made it to the league as the fifth-overall pick in the legendary 2003 NBA Draft, Wade proved to be a generational talent, someone who was going to ink his name in the basketball history books forever.
That’s why, even years after his retirement, Wade’s influence continues to be seen league-wide and why so many fans took to social media to congratulate him on his 41st birthday.
One of the greatest & most exciting shooting guards in NBA history!
HBD @DwyaneWade ⚡
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 17, 2023
Sometimes, it seems like Wade wasn’t fully appreciated.
That’s mostly because he spent his entire career in Kobe Bryant‘s shadow as the best shooting guard in the world, but being second to Kobe is like being first in almost every other era.
Wade only needed a couple of years in the league to turn the Heat franchise around and lead them to their very first NBA championship.
He then embraced a somewhat lesser role, swallowed his ego and pride, and recruited Chris Bosh and LeBron James to join him in South Beach to become one of the league’s most prominent Big 3s ever.
If that wasn’t enough, even after leaving the organization, Wade got into Jimmy Butler‘s ear and convinced him that he was tailor-made for Heat culture, making sure the franchise was in good hands now that he wasn’t going to be around.
So, let’s give him his flowers and acknowledge the fact that Wade was, is, and will forever be the greatest player in Heat history.
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