Dwyane Wade spoke his mind on the ongoing GOAT debate gripping the NBA spheres. On his podcast, Wy Network, Wade opened up on how he got introduced to the game of basketball, giving full credit to legendary Michael Jordan. When he was asked to give his pick of the seven greatest NBA players, he chose the ones who he grew up watching and played along with as an NBA player. He interestingly put Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the same level in greatness and said that they were the same players.
Dwyane Wade called Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant ‘same players’ while listing seven greatest NBA playersDwyane Wade did not keep himself away from the trending NBA GOAT debate and addressed the same in the latest episode of the Wy Network podcast. He picked the seven players and put them on his greatest players’ list, but without leaving any difference between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. He called them ‘the same players’, unlike many others.
He started with mentioning Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant on the top two positions, saying, “I would say my introduction to basketball started with Michael Jordan. Before Michael Jordan, I wouldn't really like him, even though I know the greats. I know the history, but I never really watched them. Like, I even missed a lot of the Magic era when it came to my understanding of watching a game of basketball. And so for me, Michael Jordan is when it started for me. I go Kobe, they were the same player. You saw one, you saw the other."
Then, he moved to LeBron James, explaining, “I go, obviously, LeBron, you know, getting a chance to watch him play, but I got a chance to see him up close and personal for four years in a row. I've never saw a greater basketball player when it comes to the way he plays this game in person with my own eyes. Like, I watched Jordan from afar. The way LeBron played his game is just incredible.”
His next choice was Allen Iverson. He said, “And then from there, I go with AI. Just one of my favorite players, man, just a little dude who just will, there's nothing you can do with him. The way he was just a giant killer bro. He attacked everybody in front of him, and he did it with so much swag and pizzazz.”
Speaking on Stephen Curry, he said: “I go with Steph Curry to watch Steph, see him from college, to watch him come into the pros very early, and then watch this when he took over the pros, when he took over the league. But Steph just did it in a whole different way that none of us saw coming.”
Dwyane Wade called Shaquille O’Neal the most dominant force in basketballSpeaking further on the other players whom he found inspiring, Dwyane Wade mentioned Shaquille O’Neal. He said:
“Big Shaq. I've never seen a more dominant force play this game. I love it when a big guy, especially at that era, played like a big guy. He was dunking on everybody, dog. He didn't care. I love it.”
Moving to the last player, Dwyane considered the greatest, he said, “And the last one that I would say is Kevin Garnett. Kevin Garnett was one of the most versatile players that I've ever seen play the game of basketball.”
Elaborating further on Garnett, he said, “I remember being in awe of watching somebody at his size pick up 94 feet, will guard the guard, but then get back to his, man. You know what I'm saying? Stay talking the whole game, dominate on the boards, dominate in the post, hit the outside jumper, dunk on you, and had a personality and the swag. He had it all, too.”
Watch the complete statement of Dwyane Wade on his NBA’s seven greatest players (7:01 to 10:23) :
Dwayne Wade’s seven greatest players list showed the kind of impact a player can make collectively with personality, play style, and the role picked up for the team. Without getting into statistics, Wade spoke from his heart. It explained how players can shape up any aspirant’s mind with their persona and presence on the court.
Also Read: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/nba/top-stories/dwyane-wade-fires-back-at-james-harden-comparisons-as-debate-over-all-time-shooting-guards-heats-up/articleshow/122935730.cms
Dwyane Wade FAQs Did Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal play together?Yes, Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal played together from the 2004-2005 season through the 2007-2008 season. They also won the championship together in 2006.
When were Dwyane Wade and LeBron James teammates?Dwyane Wade and LeBron James were teammates from 2010 to 2014.
Which player was the reason Dwyane Wade got introduced to basketball?Dwayne Wade was introduced to basketball by seeing Michael Jordan playing the game, per Wy Network podcast.
Dwyane Wade called Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant ‘same players’ while listing seven greatest NBA playersDwyane Wade did not keep himself away from the trending NBA GOAT debate and addressed the same in the latest episode of the Wy Network podcast. He picked the seven players and put them on his greatest players’ list, but without leaving any difference between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. He called them ‘the same players’, unlike many others.
Here is the complete transcript of the video where he mentions his list of seven greatest NBA players:Dwyane Wade lists the seven GREATEST players that he has ever seen play:
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 31, 2025
🔸Michael Jordan
🔸Kobe Bryant
🔸LeBron James
🔸Allen Iverson
🔸Steph Curry
🔸Shaquille O’Neal
🔸Kevin Garnett
(Via @wynetwork)
pic.twitter.com/H8ZIeDEAS3
He started with mentioning Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant on the top two positions, saying, “I would say my introduction to basketball started with Michael Jordan. Before Michael Jordan, I wouldn't really like him, even though I know the greats. I know the history, but I never really watched them. Like, I even missed a lot of the Magic era when it came to my understanding of watching a game of basketball. And so for me, Michael Jordan is when it started for me. I go Kobe, they were the same player. You saw one, you saw the other."
Then, he moved to LeBron James, explaining, “I go, obviously, LeBron, you know, getting a chance to watch him play, but I got a chance to see him up close and personal for four years in a row. I've never saw a greater basketball player when it comes to the way he plays this game in person with my own eyes. Like, I watched Jordan from afar. The way LeBron played his game is just incredible.”
His next choice was Allen Iverson. He said, “And then from there, I go with AI. Just one of my favorite players, man, just a little dude who just will, there's nothing you can do with him. The way he was just a giant killer bro. He attacked everybody in front of him, and he did it with so much swag and pizzazz.”
Speaking on Stephen Curry, he said: “I go with Steph Curry to watch Steph, see him from college, to watch him come into the pros very early, and then watch this when he took over the pros, when he took over the league. But Steph just did it in a whole different way that none of us saw coming.”
Dwyane Wade called Shaquille O’Neal the most dominant force in basketballSpeaking further on the other players whom he found inspiring, Dwyane Wade mentioned Shaquille O’Neal. He said:
“Big Shaq. I've never seen a more dominant force play this game. I love it when a big guy, especially at that era, played like a big guy. He was dunking on everybody, dog. He didn't care. I love it.”
Moving to the last player, Dwyane considered the greatest, he said, “And the last one that I would say is Kevin Garnett. Kevin Garnett was one of the most versatile players that I've ever seen play the game of basketball.”
Elaborating further on Garnett, he said, “I remember being in awe of watching somebody at his size pick up 94 feet, will guard the guard, but then get back to his, man. You know what I'm saying? Stay talking the whole game, dominate on the boards, dominate in the post, hit the outside jumper, dunk on you, and had a personality and the swag. He had it all, too.”
Watch the complete statement of Dwyane Wade on his NBA’s seven greatest players (7:01 to 10:23) :
Dwayne Wade’s seven greatest players list showed the kind of impact a player can make collectively with personality, play style, and the role picked up for the team. Without getting into statistics, Wade spoke from his heart. It explained how players can shape up any aspirant’s mind with their persona and presence on the court.
Also Read: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/nba/top-stories/dwyane-wade-fires-back-at-james-harden-comparisons-as-debate-over-all-time-shooting-guards-heats-up/articleshow/122935730.cms
Dwyane Wade FAQs Did Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal play together?Yes, Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal played together from the 2004-2005 season through the 2007-2008 season. They also won the championship together in 2006.
When were Dwyane Wade and LeBron James teammates?Dwyane Wade and LeBron James were teammates from 2010 to 2014.
Which player was the reason Dwyane Wade got introduced to basketball?Dwayne Wade was introduced to basketball by seeing Michael Jordan playing the game, per Wy Network podcast.
You may also like
Heroic rescue: 7 Indians in Singapore pull woman from 3ft sinkhole; act opens debate on migrant workers' rights
'Broke down, started weeping': Prajwal Revanna in 'tears' after his conviction in rape case; quantum of punishment tomorrow
'Least expensive' dog breed to keep and lives longer than other pets
Prajwal Revanna conviction a lesson, justice delivered: Victim's lawyer
'My illness baffled doctors - they gave 12 months to live'
