Dwyane Wade fully understands the legacy he etched in the Miami Heat’s record books. With that, he can only agree with what Pat Riley claimed about his rightful place within the franchise.
In a sit-down interview with Malika Andrews of ESPN, Wade aired his backing on Riley’s declaration that he is the greatest player to wear a Heat uniform.
“He’s right, you know?” Wade answered when asked about his comments regarding Riley’s claim. “I played there for almost 15 years. I put it all for that city, and I gave everything to the community, I gave everything to the game. I sacrificed everything that I could to make sure that we reached the levels that we wanted to reach. It’s no slight to anybody and I am.”
Wade is no doubt the undisputedly greatest in Miami’s basketball history. For 15 seasons, he was able to help the club win three league titles in five Finals appearances. The last two titles won’t be possible without the financial sacrifices he took in order for the Heat to land both LeBron James and Chris Bosh in making the Heatles era a reality.
He was their 2006 Finals MVP, 13-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA cager, and one proud member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Wade carried Miami and has been with them through the team’s good and bad times.
It is indeed not an act of discrediting LeBron James’ contribution if we consider Wade being the best in the Heat’s history. At the end of the day, the long-term implications weigh heavier than any other else.
