ESPN ranks Dwyane Wade as 35th-best athlete of 21st century

In a gigantic ESPN poll–accumulating over 70,000 votes–Miami Heat franchise icon Dwyane Wade was voted the 35th-best athlete of the 21st century.

Wade, widely regarded as the greatest player in Miami Heat history, averaged 22 points, 5.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks on 48.0 percent shooting and 76.5 percent from the free-throw line over his illustrious 16-year career (15 with Heat). He made 13 All-Star teams, in addition to being a three-time NBA champion (2006, 2012, 2013), eight-time All-NBA honoree, three-time All-Defensive team honoree, one-time scoring champion (2008-09; 30.2 points), 2006 NBA Finals MVP and a member of NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

Here was ESPN’s description of Wade as the 35th-best athlete, written by NBA analyst and insider Brian Windhorst:

“Who could forget that four-game Finals run Wade had? He averaged 30 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists on 60% shooting … in the 2011 NBA Finals the Miami Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks. The brilliance of Wade’s career was perhaps dimmed a tad because he teamed up with LeBron James and Chris Bosh at the peak of his powers. And the 2011 Finals will always be remembered for James’ stumbles and not Wade’s singular brilliance that was essentially wasted. But his career was spectacular and his 2006 Finals four-game run — 39.3 points and 8.3 rebounds on 50% shooting (and 73 free throws) — to lead the Heat to the first of three titles is legendary.

In the two seasons before James arrived in Miami, Wade won the scoring title and twice finished in the top five of the MVP voting. He willingly took a step back for James, an act that undoubtedly helped the Heat jell and win back-to-back titles even if it meant the end of his time at the top of those lists. It was a team-first act he paired with a willingness to come off the bench in the 2008 Olympics for the Redeem Team. He still stands as one of the greatest shooting guards of all time, the best shot-blocking guard in NBA history and a flag-carrying member of the iconic 2003 draft class.”

ESPN dubbed Dwyane Wade the 35th-best athlete in the 21st century:

“Who could forget that four-game Finals run Wade had? He averaged 30 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists on 60% shooting. … He still stands as one of the greatest shooting guards of all time, the best shot-blocking… pic.twitter.com/pxlcNCLlMQ

— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) July 18, 2024

Wade was sandwiched in between a pair of WNBA basketball legends in Tamika Catchings (34) and Maya Moore (36). He was ranked behind seven NBA players: Nikola Jokic (28), Kevin Garnett (23), Shaquille O’Neal (17), Tim Duncan (16), Stephen Curry (14), Kobe Bryant (10) and LeBron James (4) on the list. The NBA had 16 total players–both former and current–crack their top-100 list.

Wade, drafted by the Heat with the No. 5 pick in 2003, currently stands as the Heat’s all-time leading scorer, minutes played, assists, steals, games and total field goals made. He is one of three players in NBA history to record at least 20,000 career points, 5,000 assists, 4,000 rebounds, 1,500 steals, 800 blocks and make at least 500 3-pointers, joining LeBron James and Michael Jordan. That’s pretty good company, eh?

He will be earning a statue outside of Kaseya Center in the future. His mark not only on the Heat, but South Florida sports is unrivaled, playing integral parts for all three of their championship runs while being a transcendent icon off the court.