Man, Dwyane Wade is truly something else!

Even six years after hanging up his jersey, this NBA legend still exudes the competitive fire to take on today’s young stars. Just yesterday, on his self-titled YouTube channel named DwyaneWade, he dropped an exciting podcast episode with Bob and their chief guest, Delon Wright. 

In the middle of their conversation, Bob hit them with an interesting question: how would both of them perform if they were playing in today’s NBA?

It seemed like they were ready for it. Wright confidently responded with one word, “Impeccable.” And, “I would have been up there!”

As for Wade, he reflected on his prime with equal self-assurance, saying, “I was good for a long time.” ‘The Flash’ confidently believes he could leave other players in the dust if he were in his prime in today’s league. To back up his confidence, Wade even expressed his willingness to bet on it, saying, “Not only does it translate, let’s put something on it.”

Wright took it a step further, adding some extra flair with a “Couple hundred Ms on that too.” And Wade was ready to stand by his words. 

But what made Wade so confident about making such bold claims? How was he so sure of his words that he was even ready to back them up with a bet? Let’s find out!

The reason behind Dwyane Wade’s bold claim

This 13-time All-Star retired from the NBA court at the age of 37 back in 2019. However, critics alongside fans believed that Dwyane still has two or three years of game left inside him. And yes, it’s clear he still has game left in him.

On the show, he confidently stated, “That’s just real. I look at the game and I’m like, ‘Okay, okay. Can I play with these guys today?’ And I’m like, ‘Oh yeah! Not only can I play with these guys, yeah, like I am HIM in this league with these guys.'”

He believes the NBA is an ever-evolving game where talent continues to grow over time. It’s important to understand where one stands compared to the new wave of talent.

As Wade puts it, “Talent … it grows, right? And so, you know, you want to see where you’re at with the talent nowadays.” After weighing it all, Dwyane Wade is confident that he’s still right there with today’s young stars, adding, “Oh yeah, I yeah, I am right there, yeah.”

But if Dwyane still has that fire inside him, why did he choose to retire so early? After all, Dwyane was once compared to LeBron James. So, what happened? 

Wade has his reasons for betting on his claims. He was a dominating force on the court, with a career average of 22.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and a field goal percentage of 48.0. Wade was named MVP of the 2006 Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. Had injuries not slowed him down, he likely would have set new records. It’s a loss for the game and the fans to see such a legendary player retire so early.