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Dwyane Wade Names Greatest Miami Heat Player of All Time Without Hesitation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 1:42 PM ET

When people think of the Miami Heat, one name immediately comes to mind: NBA legend Dwyane Wade.

Wade spent 15 of his 17 NBA seasons with the Heat, who drafted him out of Marquette in 2003. He was the driving force behind the franchise’s first-ever championship in 2006, and later helped lead Miami to two more titles alongside LeBron James and Chris Bosh during their dominant four-year run together.

Over the weekend, during an episode of The "Wy Network by Dwyane Wade," the Hall of Famer shared his pick for the greatest player in Heat history—and his answer may surprise some.

“If you want to be honest, LeBron James is the greatest player to ever put a Miami Heat jersey on,” Wade said. “I’m the greatest player in the history of the Miami Heat… But I’m not the greatest player to put on a Heat jersey.”

While Dwyane Wade made it clear he considers himself the greatest player in the history of the Miami Heat franchise—having spent well over a decade with the team and holding numerous franchise records—he acknowledged that LeBron James, who joined the team in 2010, is the best player to ever wear a Heat jersey.

Wade is a 13-time All-Star, three-time NBA champion, eight-time All-NBA selection, three-time All-Defensive team member, and was named NBA Finals MVP for Miami’s 2005–06 championship run. That title team featured a veteran-laden roster with stars like Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, Jason Williams, Udonis Haslem, and James Posey.

The Heat defeated the Mavericks in six games that year, but five seasons later—during the first year of the Wade-James-Bosh era—Miami lost to Dirk Nowitzki and Dallas in the 2011 NBA Finals.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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