Dwayne Wade In NBA - Rookie

Dwayne Wade
Air Jordan Dunk

Unstoppable Dwayne Wade

Selected fifth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, Wade quickly emerged as a solid player on a relatively young Miami Heat team and averaged 16.2 points on 46.5% shooting to go along with averages of 4.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in his rookie season. After a slow 5-15 start, the Heat would gradually improve to finish 42-40 and make the playoffs. He further distinguished himself with outstanding performances in the playoffs, particularly against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. In the end, however, Wade's successful rookie season was somewhat overshadowed by the hype surrounding fellow rookies Carmelo Anthony and, in particular, LeBron James. Wade did earn unanimous selection to the NBA 2004 All-Rookie team, and also finished third in rookie of the year voting (behind James and Anthony). He also ranked in the top five among rookies in several major statistical categories, including second in field goal percentage, second in steals, third in scoring, fourth in assists, and fourth in minutes played.

Dwayne Wade In NBA - 04 - 05

Before the 2004-05 season Shaquille O'Neal was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Heat, and owing to this the Heat were picked by many as title contenders. Despite the added pressure of being on a team picked to contend for a title, Wade did not disappoint in his second season. He averaged 24.1 points on 47.8% shooting, to go along with averages of 6.8 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and quickly emerged as a rising star in the league. He was elected to his first NBA All-Star Game in Denver, and came off the bench to score 14 points in the East's 125-115 win. Compared to the previous year, the Miami Heat under Wade and O'Neal improved by 17 games, from a 42-40 record in the 2003-04 season, to an Eastern Conference-best 59-23 record in 2004-05.

In the first round of the 2005 NBA Playoffs, Wade averaged 26.3 points, 8.8 assists, and 6.0 rebounds at 50% field-goal shooting, as the Heat swept the Nets. Wade performed extremely well in the second round as well by averaging 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, as the Heat swept the Wizards. The Heat would go on to lose against the defending champion Detroit Pistons in 7 games during the Eastern Conference Finals. Wade scored 40 and 36 points in Games 2 and 3 respectively, despite playing with sinusitis, the flu, and a knee strain. He also suffered a strained rib muscle in Game 5 of the Conference Finals that kept him out of Game 6, and limited him in Game 7. The Heat would go on to lose the series after giving up a 3-2 lead, and a lead in the final 3 minutes of Game 7.

Dwayne Wade In NBA - 05 - 06

Dwayne Wade Scores
In All Star Game

Wade Smiles Back

In the 2005-06 NBA season, Wade was elected to his second All-Star Game. In the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, Wade made the game winning put-back off of the Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson's missed shot, to lead the East to a 122-120 victory over the West. He finished the 2005-06 regular season averaging 27.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.95 steals per game. Against the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2006 NBA Playoffs, Wade shook off a few injuries that scared Heat fans, including a severely bruised hip in Game 5. Returning late in the half, Wade resurrected his team by scoring 15 of his 28 points while suffering from intense pain, leading the Heat to the much-needed 3-2 series lead. After this, Wade successfully led his team to the 2006 NBA Finals, despite suffering from flu-like symptoms in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons. He put up a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists in that game, including an 8-point flurry to close out the 3rd period that put the game out of reach.

Dwayne Wade In NBA - 06 Finals

In his first trip to the NBA Finals, in which the Miami Heat faced off against the Dallas Mavericks , Wade had some of the more memorable moments of his career. His performance in games three, four, and five, in which he scored 42, 36, and 43 points, respectively, helped bring the Heat back from a 0-2 deficit to lead the series at 3 games to 2. Wade's Game 3 performance was especially memorable; Wade finished with 42 points (tying his career playoff high) and 13 rebounds (career high). 15 of his 42 points came in the 4th quarter, in which the Heat erased a 13 point deficit over the final 6:34 with a 22-7 run which included a go-ahead jumper by NBA veteran Gary Payton that sealed the win. The Heat went on to win Game 6, taking the series 4-2, and Wade was presented with the Finals MVP trophy. Dwyane had the third highest scoring average ever by a player in his first NBA Finals with 34.7 points per game.