Dwyane Wade, a basketball icon and Chicago native, recently unveiled which of Michael Jordan’s legendary shots stands out as his personal favorite, offering a unique perspective on one of the NBA’s most celebrated careers. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, Jordan was more than just a player for Wade; he was a profound source of inspiration, particularly for an aspiring hoop star aiming for greatness.
For Wade, who himself ascended to become one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history, Jordan’s influence was foundational. Many consider Wade the third-best at his position, often placed alongside Jordan and Kobe Bryant, a testament to the high regard in which his career is held, despite injuries.
As a devoted Chicago sports fan during the Bulls’ dominant 1990s era, Wade witnessed firsthand an unparalleled stretch of athletic supremacy. The Bulls’ six championships in eight years culminated in a moment etched into basketball lore: Michael Jordan’s game-winning jumper in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz.
This particular shot, a crucial moment that sealed the Bulls’ sixth title, resonated deeply with Wade. During an appearance on Jesser’s YouTube channel, where they recreated historic NBA plays, Wade specifically chose Jordan’s iconic Game 6 winner. He recounted the intense pressure of the moment, with the Bulls trailing by one point with just 12 seconds remaining, and the specter of a Game 7 looming – a first in Jordan’s storied Finals career.
The sequence that followed became legendary: Jordan’s decisive crossover against Byron Russell, causing the defender to slip, created the necessary space for him to sink the winning shot with 5.2 seconds on the clock. For Wade, a “Chicago man down to his core,” this play represents not just a basketball highlight but a defining piece of his formative years.
Wade’s unwavering admiration for Jordan extends beyond iconic plays to the perennial “GOAT” debate. He has consistently maintained his allegiance to the Bulls legend over his former teammate LeBron James, openly acknowledging his bias stemming from his upbringing in the “Jordan era.” This deep personal connection underscores Jordan’s role in inspiring Wade’s own journey out of his neighborhood and into basketball stardom.
Indeed, Wade attributes much of his Hall of Fame career to Jordan’s influence, stating, “For me, from Chicago, where I grew up, I made it out of the hood because I seen a dude, No. 23, play the game of basketball at a level that I was like, ‘I just want to do some of that.’” His remarks highlight the profound impact Jordan had, not just as an athlete, but as a beacon of possibility.
Interestingly, Wade has also reflected on his own career trajectory, suggesting that his battle with injuries in the late 2000s might have prevented him from being more widely appreciated. He pointed to his early success, including a Finals MVP in his third season and an NBA scoring title in 2008-09, as evidence that his GOAT case might have been significantly different had he remained consistently healthy.
