Despite Intense Physical Battles vs LeBron James, 13x All-Star Was the “Thorn” for Ex-Rival Roy Hibbert

Dwyane Wade or LeBron James, who was better during their shared time in the Miami Heat? A question that has been raised more often than you’d think. Answering the same in a video surfaced online was former Indiana Pacers star Roy Hibbert. If you remember the Pacers’ matchups against the Heat in its Wade and Bron era, you’d know there was a constant battle between Hibbert and James. In fact, a 2013 ESPN article highlighted how they both were low-key obsessed with each other on the court.

The fact that Hibbert would often ignore even his teammates when James was in possession of the ball is a testament to this. And the King too tried harder against the 7 ft 2 star from the Pacers. Let’s not forget the vicious elbow James landed on Roy during a March 2014 game. One for which he got a flagrant foul as well. Despite that, Hibbert believes it was D-Wade who was a tougher opponent for his team.

“As great as LeBron James was and still is, Dwyane Wade was actually more of a thorn in my side,” Hibbert said in a video shared by TheTruth on X. One look at LeBron James and Dwyane Wade’s time together in the Heat would tell you that King had a statistical edge over The Flash. But was the story the same against the Indiana Pacers during the time?

Notably, when the Heat clashed with the Pacers in the 2012 playoffs, Bron averaged 30 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. Meanwhile, Wade averaged 26.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in the series against the Pacers. And the story was quite similar during the other two times (2013 and 2014) the two teams faced each other in the playoffs.

As far as numbers are concerned, James was clearly a bigger threat to the Pacers during his time in Miami. But that wasn’t enough for the King to have a better Heat legacy than D-Wade. Listen out to the Heat President Pat Riley himself.

Why did Riley pick Dwyane Wade over LeBron James as a better franchise player?

Ahead of Wade’s Hall of Fame induction, Riley explained why he believes Wade is the greatest player in Heat history. And his reasoning is tough to argue with. “As a Heat player, Dwyane is the greatest player who ever put on a uniform for us,” he said, leaving no room for debate.

Sure, LeBron was the powerhouse who helped the Heat win two championships, but Riley pointed to Wade’s longevity with the Heat as the ultimate decider. “LeBron was here for four years and gave us a tremendous lift,” he added, acknowledging the King’s impact. But Wade was with the team for 13 seasons.

It’s not a slight against LeBron—it’s about consistency and dedication. Wade didn’t just win titles; he built the Heat’s identity, becoming their all-time leader in points, assists, and steals. So Wade a bigger threat or not as Hibbert claims, he takes the crown for the Heat legacy.

Stay tuned for more updates. Join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host, BG12, sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.