In Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade’s 16 seasons in the NBA, he’s been part of the three league championship teams.
As the end of his career continues to get closer, he’s reflecting on the many high points of that tenure. That includes his thoughts upon not only helping former teammate Shaquille O’Neal and the Heat win in 2006, but being named the MVP of that Finals as well.
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The Heat won that six-game series in 2006 by capturing each of the last four contests. Wade had averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game, in short, an all-around performance that stamped him as a future legend.
The 2006 series began with two double-digit losses to their opponents, the Dallas Mavericks. Wade scored a combined 51 points in those two losses and was coming off a 6-for-19 shooting performance from the field in Game 2, when he then took over the series.
Twice breaking the 40-point barrier and collecting a pair of double-doubles, Wade more than earned his MVP accolade. He put a cap on the series with a 36-point, 10-rebound performance in Game 6.
Wade’s meteoric rise began when he selected Marquette University as his college choice, then progressed when he was selected fifth in the 2003 NBA Draft. Wade would add two more titles to his basketball resume in 2012 and 2013, aided by his close friend LeBron James, who himself was named MVP in each of those Finals.
Such memories will always be there for Wade, but he’s presently more focused on current events. That includes the 26-30 Heat getting back into action on Thursday night with a road game at Philadelphia. Miami is currently tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
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