The NBA community is buzzing with an intriguing debate: Dwyane Wade or James Harden? Wade himself has been vocal, asserting his edge in performance.
Adding their voices to the conversation, Max Kellerman and Rich Paul have sided with Wade during a discussion on The Game Over Podcast. Their reasoning? Wade's ability to shine when it counts the most.
Max Kellerman and Rich Paul both take Dwyane Wade over James Harden:
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Max: Wade is better because if your argument is Harden is better in all these situations until it matters most and then Wade is better, those games are higher leverage. They’re worth more. If you’re better in… https://t.co/8Ip5yrmikS pic.twitter.com/BF9lGsLyPT
Kellerman put it succinctly: “Wade is better because if your argument is that Harden excels until it matters most, and then Wade steps up, those high-stakes games carry more weight. If you perform better in those moments, you’re the better player. So, Wade tops Harden.”
Rich Paul echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the significance of championships and accolades. “Harden has the MVP, but Wade boasts championships, a spot in the Top 75, and a Finals MVP. Wade ranks as the third-best shooting guard of all time.”
Kellerman also brought Kobe Bryant into the mix, suggesting that Bryant’s height gave him an edge over Wade. “The only reason Kobe Bryant is greater than Dwyane Wade is his two-inch height advantage,” Kellerman noted.
“Wade, at 6’4, was nearly as good as Kobe at his peak. Between Jordan’s Finals era and LeBron’s dominance, the best Finals performance was Wade against Dallas in 2006.”
Reflecting on 2006, Wade was in his third season with Miami. That year, the Heat faced the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals and clinched their first championship in franchise history in six games, with Wade earning the NBA Finals MVP honors.