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Topics: Michael Jordan, Basketball, US News, Celebrity, Sport
Kit Roberts
Topics: Michael Jordan, Basketball, US News, Celebrity, Sport
Dwyane Wade has opened up about how had things been different he thinks he could have surpassed Michael Jordan in basketball.
Wade had been appearing on Carmelo Anthony's podcast 7 PM in Brooklyn where he spoke to the NBA player about what might have been in his basketball career.
For those who aren't familiar, at the height of his career Wade was plagued by an injury which ended up interrupting him when he was in his prime.
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Wade reflected on how things might have been were it not for his injuries, saying he thinks he had the potential to become the greatest of all time, or the GOAT for short.
It's certainly a bold claim, and Wade went on to explain that his style of play had been misunderstood in the past.
He told the host: “No one has ever really — they don’t understand my game. You don’t know what I did.
"I did so many different things and I played so many different roles."
Wade explained that this was what had led to him perhaps not being thought of as the 'greatest', as he was a great all-rounder rather than a specialist.
He continued: "That’s one of the reasons why I don’t get — I’m not the greatest shooter of all time. I’m not the greatest at this — but I was great at so many different things. Then I learned how to be great at being a role player.
"I learned how to be great at all these things, and no one knows how to really break down my game."
He added: "So, they look over and they just go to one or two things, but I did so many things in the game of basketball.”
And the former player made it very clear that he had considered himself to be coming for Michael Jordan at his height.
He said: “When I had it, I had it. I thought I was going to be... Before injuries, I’m like, ‘MJ, I’m coming for you.’ That’s my mentality."
Wade continued: "I thought I was coming for MJ. I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to be the greatest.’ Because I figured it out very early in the league, and in my second year, I knew.”
But it was not to be, as Wade was sidelined due to injuries in the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
His injuries included dislocating his left shoulder, as well as a torn labrum.
After healing up he returned in 2009 to achieve career highlights in the season, but never managed to get to the heights of Michael Jordan.