“You are the humblest superstar I’ve ever interviewed” Bill Bellamy said about Dwyane Wade. In leading the Miami Heat to a championship in 2006, Wade won the Finals MVP honor. He was also fifth in the NBA in points per game, averaging 27.2 that year. He was not just an impressive player, but he was a great teammate, too. While he has an interesting resume boasting numerous individual accolades, he is a shining example of someone who has always put his team first. While Wade didn’t undermine his legacy, he does regret not having one accolade that James Harden does.

However, Stephen A. Smith claimed that Wade belongs to the ‘top floor’ when it comes to greatness. Not surprisingly, there have already been several debates about it. On top of that, Wade believes that not having this one particular accolade stops him from accessing the top floor of greatness. He feels that he can’t be in that conversation. That accolade is the regular-season MVP honor, which Wade does not have, but one that Harden won in the 2017–2018 NBA season. 

“It’s not diminishing who I am. Trust me, I’m a bad motherf—–r. I know that. Got a piece of it and in this game, we all don’t have the same access card because all of our careers are different,” Wade said. 

He added, “And so in certain rooms that I have access to, and in certain rooms that I do not. One of them is a regular season MVP. I don’t have one of those. So, I can’t have access to that room, in those conversations.”

Earlier in his podcast, Wade said the same, however, he didn’t explain the reason behind it. Not just fans, but even veteran NBA analysts felt that the 3x NBA champion was diminishing his legacy. Becoming the voice of all the fervent fans, Smith clarified that in no way is the Heat champion any less than the other NBA greats.

“D-Wade, my brother, I’m getting sick and tired of you diminishing who the hell you are. You ain’t no 25th floor. You’re the 30th floor.” Smith claimed, “He elevated LeBron James. D Wade belongs on that 30th floor,” he further added.

Well, now we know Wade’s intent. While Wade might have his theory of rooms and access, he believes that he is the best in one particular category.

Dwyane Wade declares himself the best player to never win MVP

The Flash was truly an MVP on both ends of the court. With three All-Defensive selections, eight All-NBA selections, and 13 All-Star selections, he has had a celebrated career. And while he never won the regular season MVP, he says he is one of the best players to never receive the honor.

During a question/answer segment on Wired, he was asked the same question by a fan. In response, he said, “I say Dwayne Wade. I don’t know all the guys who have not won a NBA regular season MVP. So Clay(fan), I’m gonna go with you, that guy Dwyane Wade.”

In the 2008-2009 season, when he won the scoring title, Wade had a chance to grab the MVP award as well. He averaged 30.2 points and 5 assists. However, the Miami Heat finished 5th in the Eastern Conference, which led to Wade landing 3rd in the voting.

It was ultimately Wade’s former teammate, LeBron James who was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the title. This was the first of his four MVPs. He might feel that a lack of regular-season MVPs takes away one access, but he undeniably has greatness in him too.