Photo. Jonathan MannionEvery day for the next few weeks we’re gonna take one active NBA star with at least arguable Hall of Fame credentials and break down his chances of getting into the Springfield, Mass., hoops mecca. We’re looking at not just past accomplishments, but also how a player’s career realistically projects for the future. For a full explanation of the process, click here. Today’s candidate: Dwyane Wade.
DWYANE WADE (5th year, Heat)
23.8 pts, 5.0 rebs, 6.4 asts, 1.7 stls per game
Why: Regarding the never-ending “next Jordan” debate in today’s NBA, it’s basically come down to Kobe, LeBron and D-Wade, and Flash arguably has the upper hand since he’s the only one to have been the #1 player on a championship team. So far, Wade has the impossible shot-making highlight ability, marketing behemoth status and postseason killer aspects of MJ’s repertoire down — his ‘06 playoff run (28.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.7 apg, 2.2 spg, 80% FTs) was one of the best we’ve seen from a perimeter player since Jordan was around, and Wade capped it with a ‘chip and Finals MVP. Five years into his career, Wade has yet to miss the playoffs, and last year was the first time he failed to go at least two rounds deep. The incredible talent is undeniably, no one questions his desire to keep improving, and D-Wade has a lot of years left ahead of him to add to his ring collection and pick up some major awards. He’s already got three All-Star appearances in four opportunities, three All-NBA nods, and should continue to be a staple in the MVP discussion.
Why not: The biggest potential roadblock in D-Wade’s path to Springfield would be injuries. He missed significant time as a rookie and again last season, and his kamikaze style makes his long-term health a legitimate concern. Will he be able to adjust his game like Jordan once did and still be dominant while operating farther away from the rim? Also, these next few years will go a long way in determining the likelihood of Wade staying on a championship-caliber team in Miami. Shaquille O’Neal is on his last legs, Pat Riley is setting himself up so he can bounce as soon as Shaq does, and the rest of the Miami roster isn’t that of a legit contender. Only if the front office does right by Wade and keeps him surrounded by quality players will he be in the postseason limelight for the foreseeable future.
Our call: IN
The H.O.F. Watch archive
10/18 - Chauncey Billups
10/17 - Stephon Marbury
10/16 - Jason Kidd
10/15 - Shawn Marion
10/12 - Ray Allen
10/11 - Chris Bosh
10/10 - Chris Webber
10/9 - Paul Pierce
10/5 - Jermaine O’Neal
10/4 - Gary Payton
10/3 - Tracy McGrady
October 19th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Duke says:
He’s talented, but it’s WAY to early to even talk about him as a H.O.F.
October 19th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Captain America says:
This man is a true champion and represents the NBA well. His team mates (especially another lock for HOF, Shaq) appreciate Dwayne’s skill and leadership. Given that he has carried his team to the apex already, he is a shoe-in.
October 19th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Mike says:
I don’t know about him having the upper hand the next MJ debate but yeah, if he can get back to where he was in 05-06 and stay at that level for 7-8 years, I don’t know how anyone can keep him out of the Hall. Hell, if he does that, not only will he be a hall of famer, but he’ll probably go down as the third best SG of all-time, behind MJ and Kobe.
October 19th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
fiyaman says:
If he keeps this pace there is noway he doesnt make it..
But right now it WAAAAAYYYY too early..
.
How bout putting Sheed on the list i;d like to see his votes..
October 19th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
you gotta assume all the major superstars are gonna be in eventually…it’s almost pointless to throw them in the debate; y’all should hit us with more articles with the more unsure players, like Marion, Billups, Amare, etc. Those are worth the debate
October 19th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Smity says:
i agree with the others. Once i see Wades name at the top of the page i have an immediate feeling that there’s no way that you all will vote him OUT. Like Bust Jlaze said, he’s basically a sure bet at this stage in his career (which is a very early stage.) So if you all at dime did the HOF watch on wade just because it was an easy entry (being that his why reasons + potential vastly outweigh his why not reasons + iffy situations) and you were still debating another player’s potential status who’s case isnt so easy to determine then fine. But a lot of people are more interested in hearing/reading (and then debating on) what you all have to say about people who have been around for a little bit. Like Sheed, grant hill, dirk, baron, shareef, cassell, dikembe, lamar, etc…
October 19th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Gregg says:
Let’s talk about other players- We need to focus on players with at least 5+ years of experience.
Grant Hill
Alonzo Mourning
Elton Brand
Dirk Nowitski
Garnett
Robert Horry!
Baron Davis
Vince Carter
Allen Iverson
Dikembe Mutumbo
Ben Wallace
Marcus Camby
Steve Nash
October 19th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Celts Fan says:
Hell ya Gregg! They do need to do Robert Horry (my vote: IN) I think that’d be a really, really interesting one…
October 19th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Gee says:
To early but provided he gets that shoulder right and get one more ring and keeps making a significant impact in the league (and staying out of trouble) he will make it. He has to, and I mean HAS TO, stay at the top of the leauge as an elite player though (with or without Shaq). I would like to see him in and I feel he will continue to play at a winning level, even if it’s just him alone playing at that level on his team lol.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Taliban says:
Fiyaman,
Not wayyy to early. No wayyy it’s too early. Wade has played four full seasons, 1/3rd of a solid NBA career. Sandy Koufax played 12 seasons in the bigs and got into the HOF because of 6 of them. Koufax’s first six seasons were mediocre - his ERA was in the high 3’s and he never struck out 200 batters in a season. Of course his last six seasons saw him K 216 guys at worst and 382 guys at best. He won 3 Cy Youngs and 1 MVP during the final 6 years of his career.
Back to basketball…Wade has posted four very strong seasons, has a Finals MVP, and MOST IMPORTANTLY has changed the game. He brings a super-charged energy to the point guard position without regard for injury or personal safety. In doing so, he’s endeared himself to fans.
He needs to continue with strong numbers of course. He also needs to continue to play the style that’s become synonymous with his name.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Smity says:
The true measuring stick for any point or shooting guard in my opinion, is seeing how they play without one of the most dominant forces in league history, in shaq. If D wade can still kill for a whole bunch of years after shaq has gone then i will see him in a whole nother light. Kobe went and earned my respect with his dominant play (i’m sure that the whole time he was thinking that he needed to prove to me his worth.) So i’m just anxious to see Wade on his own (after he has come into his own- i’m not counting his rookie season), or if not on his own, then paired with another star thats not a big man (cause we all know that they make the game a lot easier for everyone else…here’s looking at you tony parker…)
October 19th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
fiyaman says:
I like the Mutumbo idea.. He should be the next 1 DIME..
October 19th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Bron42 says:
um if you know your basketball, wade was killin before shaq even was traded to the heat. Had them in the second round of the playoffs as a rookie. Remember when him, skip, and damon jones torched the hornets and baron?You can’t ignore his rookie season because he was already doing what he does. So We already kno he can play without shaq. The question is, because of the injury will he become flash again or turn into penny hardaway.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
fiyaman says:
hey asshole taliban
your trying to tell me the if something was to happen (God forbid) and DWade couldnt play another game u would put him in the hall? ( because of the 1 grt season he had with Shaq)
If thats the case I give-up and will say nothing more on this topic.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Smity says:
bron- dont start of your comment with “um, if you know your basketball” because thats not respectful. wade was doing good but he wasnt killin. also dont make it sound like it was just him on the team and that only he had them in the second round cause like you said, he was with skip, lamar and caron and also rasul butler came off the bench and all four of those cats had probably their best year on a winning team (with the exception of caron (matter fact include malik allen in there with those guys cause he was steppin up big too (with the exception of caron). he can obviously play without shaq. Thats not the question. The question is can he be a star without shaq. can and will he be an elite player-will he continue to murder cats like has been doing with shaq- once shaq is gone?
October 19th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
djKianoosh says:
waaaaaaaaaay too early. if he continues and you extrapolate his career numbers out another 4 or 5 years, adds another finals appearance, then it’s a no brainer. he just got into league it seems…
October 19th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Bron42 says:
um…i don’t give a fuck? normally I would accept a normal debate but dont come at me with “its not respectful.” you aint my mom, you aint my english teacher and you damn sure aint me so um…save it. As for him killin. Your going to tell me he wasnt the star of that heat team? He wasnt the one hittin game winners? or makin deshaun stevenson fall on his ass? Was he the dominante player he is now? but he wasn’t gerald green either. He was a star about half way through his rookie season. None of those guys pretty much had any shine UNTIL he got there and then suddenly their in the playoffs with him leadin the way. So it was HIS team.
October 19th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
K-Dizzle says:
What Smity said. D-Wade hasn’t done anything that Kobe didn’t do WITH Shaq. One of those Finals MVPs with the Lakers should have gone to Kobe (Indiana series). Look at Kobe without Shaq; great individually but not improving or lifting up his teammates. That’s the one advantage I think Wade has over Kobe; he actually makes his teammates better. I look at TP and Manu with Duncan and I look at Lebron with no dominant big man and it becomes apparent that only time will tell. Wade got his chip early, but he hasn’t put enough time in….yet.
And please….please stop disrespecting Oscar Robertson and the Logo when it somes to the best 2-guards in history. Yeah, Kobe has more rings and D-Wade is right now, but after MJ, Big O’s next, then Kobe, then Logo, then D-Wade if he comes back healthy. Peace
October 19th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Mike says:
K-Dizzle: One of those Finals MVPs with the Lakers should have gone to Kobe (Indiana series).
Damn straight. People keep saying that Shaq was the only reason that Kobe got those three rings, but that’s just ignorance. Kobe did more for the Lakers to get to the Finals than Shaq in those 3 championship runs. Kobe got them through the tough western teams and then Shaq just turned it up against the weak-ass eastern conference teams in the Finals. If they gave out Playoff MVPs instead of Finals MVPs, Kobe would have gotten the gleam. Not Shaq. So please don’t say things like D-Wade being better than Kobe just cause he’s got a Finals MVP trophy. Like Kobe couldn’t have gotten one if he gunned for his own numbers when they were just toying with Philly or New Jersey. Just stop it.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Smity says:
bron- you are a funny human. i dont have to be your mom or you english teacher or you to tell you that something you say is disrespectful or not. so simmer. you think that d-wade was the star of that team. i dont think so. lamar, and his potential for excellence, was established then already. skip had proven himself capable of running a team by then. caron’s game was intact by then. d-wade was still coming getting a feel for the game and coming into his own and he definately wasnt a star halfway through his rookie season, at least not in my opinion. youre a funny human.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
2 Easy says:
Yo Im sorry Smitty but I have to agree wit Bron on that one it was Wades team. It wasnt originally but he made it his in his rookie season. He led them to the playoffs and scared a powerful Pacers team (at the time, Im still so vex they didnt win the title) Lest we forget his slam on JO. Now Im sorry but people seem to forget that Wade was on track for greatness before Shaq. Now LO is nice but hes no shaq and if u take all that away then ur puttin Wade on a Dleague squad and then thats just pointless. If and wen Shaq leaves look at how well Dwade continues on and then you’ll kno. Now I cant say hes in based on his 5 seasons but if his career ended tomorrow, he’d have a better chance than some players out there
October 19th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
dagwaller says:
seriously, before shaq got there, yea, wade was good, and the heat were a second round playoff team…in the years when the east was laughably bad. i think the kobe without shaq comparison is apt, and without those rings, kobe looks a lot like t-mac…
October 19th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Bron42 says:
well for a while kobe and tmac were neck and neck. If you remember tmac from the orlando years, looks alot like kobe does now. First round knock outs while still scarin teams, puttin up big numbers, etc..
as for smitty, well I try to be a funny human. It helps keeps things mellow for when i’m disrespecting people and their statless comments. You seriously say Lamar odom was the team leader? When has he EVER been a team leader? Like you said, he has potential but he never lives up to it. Good game here and there but if you thought miami heat that year, you werent thinkin rafer alston or lamar odom. Skip was a cocky no talent that could barely stick in the league at that point and lamar was a under achieving ex clipper who everyone saw as a bust. Neither was established or consistant. Damon jones was even #2 pg in the rotation, shows u how strong the team was. Caron was ok but obviously he wasn’t that much if the lakers shipped him off for kwame brown. When it came down to crunch time who was takin and makin the shots. THe rookie, the team leader wade. who was crossin baron davis and hittni that game winner. Wade. So stop gassin up other guys who havnt done much of anything since they left wades side (minus caron) and just accept that it was wades team and he made them better. shaq just added to it.
October 19th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
jnuh says:
I call bullshit on Bron ever having an English teacher.
October 20th, 2007 at 12:32 am
E-ROC says:
You want to crown his a** then crown him. By the way, it’s too early. He’s been in for only 5 years. He has about 8 yrs to go.
October 20th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Bron42 says:
ya ur right, I went to one of the few high schools and colleges that had no english program. way to call me out on that one.
October 20th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Austin Burton says:
“Caron was ok but obviously he wasn’t that much if the lakers shipped him off for kwame brown.”
That was less of a knock on Caron and more a case of L.A. being seduced by Kwame’s size and potential.
Also, Wade’s rookie season without Shaq and the way he played last season when Shaq missed a ton of games shows that he’s still nasty on his own.
October 20th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Bron42 says:
Wasn’t really tryin to rip caron, just stating he wasn’t the all star level type he is now. And, the lakers caught a new york knicks type trade wit that deal.
October 20th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
TG says:
If he can stay healthy, he should be a lock for the HOF. But that’s a BIG if. He’s always banged up, if not actually seriously injured. Someone should have told him that “fall down 9 times get up 10″ ad was lame, so why try to duplicae it in an actual game?
So, until he proves he can stay healthy for several seasons in a row, I’d probably have to vote “wait and see” on whether he makes the HOF.
October 20th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Arnaud Parienty says:
Of course, talking about individuals honours in a team game can last forever… because it’s a team game and teams are about chemistry and collective strength, especially on D, which is often forgotten, if half of the story. I admit that it’s fun. But it’s also pointless.
More than that, distinguishing special individuals in a team sport is a medias requirement, but it’s probably making more harm than good. Did you see the Spanish NT in this year European ’ship ? They play beautifully and it’s not a matter of Gasol or Calderon being on the floor, just the flow of the ball and the players.
October 20th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
doc says:
he has to play more years. Oldheads in Philly tell me Andrew Toney would’ve killed a lot of these cats but he aint play long enough to get in the hall. If Wade check out tomorrow he aint in. And when I’m old I would be tellin youngsters how nice he was.
October 20th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Chris says:
you guys gotta start picking the right kind of players for debate..this, it’s too early..chris bosh..it’s too early
who are you gonna do next..chris paul? brandon roy? maybe kevin durant
you guys gotta pick players that are in the latter stages of their careers
grant hill, steve nash, robert horry, dikembe, iverson, vince, kobe, alonzo, shaq, ray allen
players drafted in the 90’s
October 21st, 2007 at 6:59 am
ride01 says:
If Wade continues, he’s a lock. His rookie year alone makes him so. Yes, he killed in the playoffs, putting the team on his back. He’s like AI was when he came in, only more of a beast in hte lane, but less J work.
The Kobe comparison lacks merit. Shaq was in his prime in LA. If you can honestly say he didn’t deserve the MVP he got, you must be on something. Shaq has been the most dominant center since Olaujwan. Shaq made Kobe. Yeah, he still kills now, but has to break his neck to do it. Will he still be doing that 2-3 years from now? Wade got an older Shaq that still requires the occaisional double team, but not that overall dominance. Finals MVP as a huge underdog to the mighty Mavs is very impressive.
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:06 pm
ldawg23 says:
the Heat, wouldnt even trade Wade with odom, and caron for SHAQ…So that says how high on the teams scale ol boy was…That doesnt make him a lock for the HOF after 5 years. But it does show how much he grew in his Rookie year, not to be include into a trade for SHAQ DADDY
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:52 pm
AY says:
I’m going to say what i said on the Chauncey board, he’s not in, he only played 5 years. You should have conversations about older guys like chris said. How about Rasheed Wallace? And if you’re going to say CWebb is out, it’s hard to make an argument for Tmac, their credentials are not that different; tmac have better stats, Cwebb got further in the playoffs. Now ‘Sheed, he went all the way, he was the difference maker, I say he’s in.
Also it’s impossible to skip Horry, the best fringe candidate of all time.
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Anon says:
Someone said that if all goes well, D-Wade will not only go to the H.O.F, but could go down as the third best SG of all time…before Allen Iverson? I don’t think so. D-Wade is a great player but he has A LOT to do before he should even be mentioned in their company, and I mean A LOT. Allen Iverson will more then likely go down as the greatest little man to ever play the game (the most off the court influential player sinse Jordan) and Kobe as the most complete player sinse Jordan. And Michael Jordan is well…MICHAEL JORDAN! I understand that people are all about the here and now, but I have to be realistic, we don’t know what could happen. Everyone thought that Grant Hill was the next “Jordan”, then he got injured and everyone jumped off the band wagon. Same with Penny Hardaway. I wish D-Wade the best but i’ll have to see at the end of his career wether or not he is H.O.F status or just another ALL-STAR/Superstar player. Only time will tell. Like I said before, if you check the ALL TIME STATS those players are in a league of their own and it’s damn near disrespectful to compare. When SHAQ, KOBE, IVERSON and some of those other players start to retire, I probaly won’t even watch the game as often anymore, don’t get me wrong LEBRON and D-WADE are cool, but there is something about players like IVERSON, SHAQ and KOBE that set them apart, theres a certain charisma about them… there will be ALL-STARS, there will be SUPERSTARS and there will be ALL TIME GREATS… those players go beyond BASKETBALL and cross over into pop culture… the only player that I see coming close to that out of the 04′ draft class is LEBRON… there are still people out of the B-BALL world that still don’t even know who D-WADE is. I heard an interview once with the singer RHYANNA and they were asking her to rate MEN, and they asked about D-WADE and she said “who’s that”? LOL! My mom doesn’t even watch B-BALL and yet she knows who IVERSON and KOBE are. D-WADE is nice, but will he acheive their level of greatness? Like I said, only time will tell. But he has a lot to do before he catches up with KOBE, IVERSON, SHAQ or JORDAN. I’m just being realistic (because not many are).
October 26th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Chaos says:
dwayne wade is in but he wont make it if he keeps getting hurt. he got to be one of the top 5 most reckless players in the league. he is hitting the ground waaaay to much. not like AI hitting the ground because he so small he cant help it. but is he stays healthy he is in.
October 26th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Snoopy says:
Hey Bill Walton got into the Hall with only one great season ….
November 6th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
anthony says:
IN????
does not take much to get into the hall of fame these days.
November 28th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Danesha says:
Thats stupid!!! I think D.Wade has a chance to get into the H.O.F. and if you dont think so you dont know real basketball. So get it straight!!!!!!!!!