Dwyane Wade isnt ducking the comparisons to James Harden. In fact, hes embracing them, with brutal honesty.
The three-time NBA champion addressed the long-standing debate over who ranks as the third-greatest shooting guard of all time behind Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
For many fans and analysts, the argument often comes down to Wade vs. Harden, and Wade didnt shy away from offering perspective on how different their priorities were.
Its going to be a lot of arguments about Oh, hes better because he scored more points. Oh, hes better because I like his game better. Hes better because he won more rings. This conversation never goes anywhere, Wade said on the Time Out podcast. Winning a ring, its a whole different game than being a great player and having stats. I could have more stats if I didnt care about winning a ring.
Dwyane Wade on his career after recent debate about him vs. James Harden:
I can have more stats if I didnt care about winning a ring.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/ZSh7IHicKx
Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) July 26, 2025
Wades point: longevity and numbers dont always tell the full story.
In his prime, Wades production was elite. His 2008-09 season saw him average 30.2 points, 7.5 assists, and five rebounds per game. But unlike Harden, who carried a massive offensive load for several years in Houston, Wade played most of his career surrounded by stars and sacrificed volume for winning.
Harden, now 35 years old, is still chasing that elusive first championship.
Hes cracked the top 10 on the NBAs all-time scoring list and averaged 29-plus points for five straight seasons from 2015 to 2020. But playoff collapses have continued to define his legacy, including this years Game 7 no-show against Denver.
READ MORE: Shaq Goes Nuclear on Rudy Gobert Again
