Allen Iverson was recently chosen as the best player to wear No.3 in NBA history by ‘The Athletic’. The fans and analysts seem to be ‘shell shocked’ by this statement with Dwyane Wade in the list of No. 3s. Disappointment is bound to trickle amongst D’Wade fans considering his accomplishments which are no less than AI. With 3-time championships and Finals MVP, many opt for Wade for the all-time #3 title.
In his 3rd NBA season, Dwyane, the best player of that season, led Miami Heat to their first NBA championship in the history of their franchise. Against the likes of LeBron James and Chris Bosh, he took Miami to four consecutive NBA finals from 2011-14 and won back-to-back championships of 2012 and 2013.
“D’wade accomplished a little more as part of championships than AI.” Shannon Sharpe once said.
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The two can’t be compared when it comes to AI being the scoring juggernaut of his time. With a playoff career-scoring average of 29.6 per game, he was just second to Jordon. He was the first overall pick for Philadelphia 76ers in the 1996 NBA draft and was also named as the ‘NBA Rookie of the Year’ in the same season. His deadly crossovers and ball-handling skills made him lethal on the court. Despite their career credentials being parallel to each other, Iverson’s impact on the game is considered way different than Dwyane’s.
Dwyane Wade: A Fair selection for All-time NBA #3 spot?
Considering his stature and as a leader, Wade sweeps the credit of being the NBA all-time No.3 according to many. His defensive skills were way more exuberant than AI. The later having 11 NBA All-Star games next to his name is still short of Dwyane by two but surpasses him in the number of scoring titles he possesses. On the latest episode of ‘Undisputed’, Skip Bayless said that Dwyane is a ‘must-see TV’ for him. Definitely, Iverson’s numbers are insane to witness but Miami’s 13-time NBA all-star displays top efficiency in crucial games. With 3 NBA championships on his end and none for AI, D’wade is leading the charts in games that matter the most.