NBA Draft: Each team’s greatest draft pick of all-time

Greatest draft pick in Miami Heat history: Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade was somewhat of an afterthought in the famous 2003 Draft class behind both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Yet with his career having just recently come to its conclusion, there’s no denying his place among the all-time greats of the NBA.

Had he won just the single championship with the Miami Heat in 2006, Wade’s career resume would be just fine. He was that good, averaging a ridiculous 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game in helping the Heat climb out of a 2-0 series hole to win the first ever title for the franchise in six games.

By the summer of 2010, D-Wade had asserted himself as one of the best players in the league, a perennial All-Star and a dominant offensive presence. The city of Miami was his, forged through the fire of that historic championship performance as well as a number of eye-popping highlights and late-game heroics.

It was Wade who not only opened his personal playground to LeBron James and Chris Bosh with open arms in the summer of 2010 but who took the biggest pay cut in order to form the league’s newest and flashiest Big 3. Following a disappointing Finals loss in 2011, he willingly handed over the keys of the franchise to James after it was clear one of them had to take a step back.

The result of this sacrifice? Two more championships to his name, making it three in total. Combined with his 13 All-Star appearances along with eight All-NBA selections, it’s clear Wade’s future Hall of Fame career left a mark on the NBA, with a talent level and sacrifices that won’t soon be forgotten.