Despite his reputation as arguably the third-best shooting guard of all time, are there stars who surpass Dwyane Wade? Well, former Los Angeles star Patrick Beverly recently picked James Harden over The Flash. But then there is Draymond Green, who is having none of it. The Golden State Warriors forward made it clear—when comparing the Miami Heat legend and the current LA Clippers star, he’s rolling with D-Wade.
Dray first and foremost clarified that there is no comparison for him because the two play different positions. Yep, his first call itself was that the comparison is unfair. Still, if forced to pick, his answer came without hesitation—Wade all the way.
“I played D-Wade when I came to the league and they were winning championships in Miami. But in saying that, man, James Harden is so f—— good. But the reason I’m going to pick D-Wade, I’m going to pick D-Wade, A, he won championships and he won a championship as Finals MVP, carrying a team in his third year. Yes, he had the Diesel and Diesel changed everything. I’mma pick D-Wade because of that reason,” Green explained.
Now, let’s talk accolades. This one’s close. Wade has 8 All-NBA team selections, while Harden has seven. The Heat legend boasts 13 All-Star appearances, with Harden sitting at 11. Harden’s got that 2018 MVP award, but Wade? He’s got something Harden doesn’t—a Finals MVP from 2006, earned when he led the Heat to a championship in just his third season.
And then there’s the position debate. Wade spent his entire career as a two-guard, just like Jordan and Kobe. Harden, on the other hand, switched things up. He started as a shooting guard in OKC but became a dominant point guard in Houston. That switch, Draymond Green argued, changed everything.
Draymond Green picks Dwyane Wade over James Harden all time
“The reason I’m going to pick D Wade, A, he won championships as finals mvp carrying a team in his 3rd year.. Also because if Harden stayed a 2 guard, his career isn’t necessarily what it is”
(Via @DraymondShow) pic.twitter.com/R0ETJAeU6y
— Heat Culture (@HeatCulture13) March 29, 2025
“I’m also going to pick D-Wade because if Harden stayed at two-guard, his career isn’t necessarily what it is today. Him changing to the point guard changed everything. Don’t get me wrong. He still would have been an All-Star, a perennial All-Star. But the dominance that James Harden had as a point guard, I don’t think he would have the same dominance as a two-guard,” Green pointed out.
Well, statistically speaking, Harden has an edge over Dwyane Wade. But there is no denying that there was something different about the man who earned himself the nickname of the fastest man alive, The Flash.
While the debate rages on, it’s clear that the criteria for ‘greatness’ in basketball is as varied as the players themselves. Before we delve into Patrick Beverley’s contrasting perspective, it’s essential to understand the complexities that Draymond Green himself acknowledges.
Why did Patrick Beverly pick James Harden over Dwyane Wade?
Beverley’s latest take on The Pat Bev Podcast is bound to get basketball fans talking. When it comes to the debate between James Harden and Dwyane Wade, Beverley made it clear—he’s taking Harden. But his reasoning isn’t about skill or accolades. Instead, it all comes down to longevity.
Think about the stars dominating the league today. Beverley pointed out that guys like Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant could all be playing until they hit 40. “James Harden’s going to play til he’s 40,” he said, grouping his former teammate into that category. In his eyes, that kind of extended prime is something past generations just didn’t see as often.
Of course, exceptions exist—Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar proved that by still being All-Stars at 40. But Beverley believes the modern era gives players an edge when it comes to sustaining high-level performance for longer.
“I’ve seen the comparison with James Harden and [Dwyane Wade],” he continued. “While I’m taking James Harden over D-Wade, it’s only because of longevity.” His argument? Players today have learned from the past while benefiting from better health, training, and recovery. And in his mind, that makes all the difference. But then why is Draymond Green picking D-Wade? Well, because if longevity made all the difference, we would no longer have the GOAT debate in the NBA.
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