Besides being a former scoring champ and Finals MVP, Dwyane Wade is one thing above the rest: an NBA champion. He has won his third NBA title and done so in impressive fashion, winning two straight.
While he was used to being the star of the team and leading the Miami Heat to a title in 2006, he had no problem putting his role on the team aside and allow LeBron James to take over the team in 2010. Prior to the addition of James and Chris Bosh, you would be hard-pressed to see a superstar okay with the idea of giving up his leadership role.
Wade was that guy for the Miami Heat. Even when they added Shaquille O’Neal to help them win a title in 2006, he knew Shaq was a future Hall-of-Fame player and allowed him to do what he needed to succeed. He was still the go-to guy for the Heat during their first title run, but recently, he has allowed James to be the go-to guy even when critics called him a “choker”.
Wade and James seem to be a match made in heaven because they always believed in each other, no matter what anyone said.
The 2013 NBA title was no different as Wade was there every step of the way for his team. In the final four games of the NBA Finals, Wade averaged 23.5 points per game as well as six rebounds and nearly five assists per game. He was as clutch as can be for the Heat and played a pivotal role in winning their second consecutive title.
LeBron James might be the leader of this team, but there’s no doubt that Wade is close behind as the co-captain and without him, the Miami Heat would not be champions once again.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.