Which Legacy Will He Leave?
Woj asked Wade if his many sacrifices of money, attention and possessions on the court will have an effect on his legacy as an NBA great. Here’s Dwyane’s response:
“When people ask me if there’s one word you want to be remembered by, I want to be remembered [as] someone who was selfless. Cared about winning. My ego is not as big as people expect it to be…Dwyane Wade was not on anyone’s radar. What I developed and what I became in Miami was from my heart, my determination, my opportunity that I got. And I took advantage of it. God gave me a talent, but my ego was never big. I was never ‘The Chosen One’. I was never supposed to be. So I never had an ego. I was just happy to be on teams, happy to play with certain guys. Then I became a big name, but that didn’t change the foundation of who Dwyane Wade was. For me, it was always about playing a team sport. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than team success. Nothing…I just want to be remembered as being selfless and doing it my way. I mean, it’s my career. Allow me to do it the way I want and who cares what someone else don’t like. It’s my career. Do it my own way.” – Dwyane Wade
Wade’s final thoughts here are interesting. He says he wants to be remembered as a selfless player who did things his own way. Then he says, “it’s my career” and repeats that sentiment again for emphasis.
…So which is it, Dwyane? How can you be selfless while insisting that you do things your way and who cares if people don’t like it? Perhaps Wade just misspoke when trying to explain how he wants to be remembered.
Looking at the first 14 years of his NBA career, Wade is mostly right about being selfless. On multiple occasions, he took less money and shared the spotlight so the Heat could add expensive, big-ego talent to their rosters. It paid off, first with Shaquille O’Neal and then with James and Bosh. Three rings for the selfless Wade who always put team success first.
More Like SelfISH
The only part of Wade’s self-identified selflessness that rings hollow is his decision to leave Miami and come to Chicago. The offer he turned down from Miami was just a few million dollars less than the deal he took from the Bulls. He insists it was about the lack of respect showed from Riley, but he also admits that Bosh and Dragic getting max deals before him was a factor. So was selfishly taking the opportunity to live out a lifelong dream.
No, seriously. In his introductory press conference in Chicago, Wade said he made a selfish decision. Want proof?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzZ1cmA2h90&t=42s#t=12m34s
You can’t really blame Wade for making that decision. Or maybe you can, if you’re a diehard Heat fan who wanted him to stay in Miami. Either way, it’s hypocritical to his theory that he’ll be remembered as a completely selfless player.
Wade still has time to put a few final chapters in the book of his NBA career. Will they include a reunion with his superstar pals? Ring chasing somewhere outside of Chicago? Or will he stay home, and finish his career with the Bulls after spending his childhood dreaming about such an honor? Selfish or selfless, it will go down as a Hall of Fame career either way.
You can listen to the entirety of Wade’s interview with Adrian Wojnarowski below:
