Loading ...
Dwyane Wade versus Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is a three time NBA champion. Dwyane Wade won a title last season.
Both players have been blessed to play alongside Shaquille O’Neal.
Both were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs this season.
Each has been compared to Michael Jordan in different stages of their respective careers.
Kobe has been compared to MJ since entering the league. D. Wade’s 2006 NBA Finals performance was said to be “MJ like.”
Neither player is or will ever be MJ but how do they stack up against one another?
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant was born on August 23rd, 1978. Bryant’s basketball stardom was immediate. Bryant is the all-time leading scorer in Southeastern Pennsylvania history with 2,883 points, eclipsing the previous mark set by Wilt Chamberlain.
Kobe was selected as the USA Today and Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year.
Despite scoring 1080 on his SAT and being offered a scholarship to Duke University Kobe declared for the NBA draft following his senior year in high school and was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets. Kobe was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac.
The then 18 year old Kobe Bryant didn’t receive much playing time in his first season as he was stuck behind All-Stars Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. By Kobe’s second season he was the runner up for the NBA’s Sixth Man of The Year award and the youngest All-Star starter in history.
The Lakers traded Van Exel and Jones in Kobe’s third season and his skills continued to improve. Kobe averaged 19.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, and shot 47% from the field.
Phil Jackson arrived in LA in Kobe’s fourth season and the Lakers, led by Shaquille O’Neal would go on to win three consecutive championships.
Kobe’s game would blossom in those first three seasons under the Zenmaster. Kobe averaged 22.5, 28.5, and 25.5 PPG during those championship years. Bryant also averaged 6.3, 5.9, and 5.3 RPG and 4.9, 5.0, and 5.5 APG.
Bryant would also become a regular on the All-NBA defensive teams. In his fourth NBA season and at the age of 21 Kobe was selected to the NBA’s first defensive team. He would be selected to the NBA’s second defensive team the next two seasons, being narrowly beaten by perennial All-NBA defenders Gary Payton and Jason Kidd.
Kobe is a 9 time All-NBA selection. Bryant was named to the third team in 1999 and 2005, the second team in 2000 and 2001, and the first team in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007.
The “Mamba” is also a 7 time All-Defensive selection. As mentioned above, Kobe was named to the second team in 2001 and 2002 and the first team in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007.
Bryant’s boasts career regular season averages of 24.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, and has shot .453% from the field. Kobe’s first year averages may have brought down his career #’s a bit. Bryant only played 15.5 minutes per game his rookie season and averaged 7.8 PPG, 1.9 RPG, and 1.3 APG.
Dwyane Wade
Dwayne Wade was born January 17th 1982. Dwyane was born on the south side of Chicago and grew up idolizing Michael Jordan. D. Wade was a late bloomer and was only recruited by three schools (Marquette, Depaul, and Illinois State) after finishing a high school career that saw him set single season records in points (676) and steals (106) in leading his team to a 24-5 mark.
Wade chose the University of Marquette. Dwyane was forced to sit out his first season due to academic problems but led the Golden Eagles to unprecedented success in his next two seasons. Dwyane would lead the league in scoring the next two seasons and cap his collegiate career off by giving Marquette their first ever appearance in the Final Four. Wade’s stock skyrocketed thereafter and he became the 5th pick of the 2003 NBA draft.
The 22 year old rookie would average 16.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.5 APG, and shoot .465% from the field in his inaugural season. Teaming with Lamar Odom and Caron Butler the trio would lead the Heat to a 42-40 record and a playoff birth. Dwyane would be instrumental in Miami’s postseason success. Wade hit a game winner in the Heat’s first round series versus the New Orleans Hornets. Miami would win that series 4-3 and lose in the next round in 6 games to the Indiana Pacers.
Shaquille O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat shortly before the beginning of D. Wade’s second season and “Flash” and “Superman” led the Heat to a 17 game improvement over the previous season and a #1 seed in the playoffs. The 23 year old Wade’s sophomore season averages jumped to 24.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.8 APG, and he shot .478% from the field. The Heat would lose to the defending champion Detroit Pistons in 7 games of the Eastern Conference Finals. For his efforts Wade was selected to both the NBA’s All-NBA and All-NBA defensive second teams.
Wade averaged 27.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.7 APG during the 2005-2006 season. Wade was even more impressive during the playoffs. Wade averaged 34.7 PPG in the NBA Finals versus the Dallas Mavericks. The Heat would go on to win the 2006 NBA championship and D. Wade was named the NBA Finals MVP.
The 2006-2007 season was a rocky one for D. Wade and the Miami Heat. Shaquille O’Neal was lost for the better part of the regular season and Wade struggled to keep the Heat above .500 in the Eastern Conference. Miami was just 20-25 before Shaquille O’Neal returned to the lineup. Just as soon as Shaq got back, Dwyane was forced to the bench with an injury of his own. Wade separated his shoulder in a February 21st game against the Houston Rockets. Shaquille would lead the Heat on a impressive run and ultimately a 4th seed in the 2007 playoffs and rematch with the young Chicago Bulls.
Dwayne averaged 23.5 PPG, 6.3 APG, 4.8 RPG, and shot 43% from the field as the Heat were swept by the Chicago Bulls.
Dwyane is a 3 time All-NBA selection. Wade has been selected to the second team in 2005 and 2006 and the third team in 2007. D. Wade is also a one time All-NBA defensive team selection, having been selected to the NBA’s third team in 2005.
Making the comparison
It’s not as difficult as one might think. Kobe is about 3 and a half years older than Dwyane but has been in the NBA for 11 seasons. This is Dwyane’s 4th season. Some may believe Kobe has the advantage since he’s been in the league longer but he didn’t receive regular playing time until his 3rd season and after turning the age of 20. Wade came into the league as a 21 year old rookie.
By Bryant’s 3rd season in the league he had been runner up to the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award and selected to the All-NBA’s third team (1999). Kobe averaged 19.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 4.6 APG. Wade’s rookie season was also impressive; Dwyane averaged 16.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 4.5 APG.
At the age of 21 Kobe was selected to the All-NBA first defensive team and alongside Shaquille O’Neal won his first NBA championship. Kobe was also selected to All-NBA second team that season.
At the age of 22 Wade was also selected to the All-NBA second team.
Kobe has three rings. Dwyane has won. Dwyane has an NBA Finals MVP. Kobe does not.
Kobe averaged 25.7 PPG, 5 APG, and 5.9 RPG in the playoffs during LA’s three championship runs.
Dwyane averaged 28.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 5.7 APG in the 2006 NBA playoffs.
Without an injured Shaquille O’Neal
The 2002-2003 NBA season was Kobe’s 7th. He was a 24 year old player and Shaquille O’Neal decided to delay surgery until the start of training camp. Shaq would miss the greater part of the regular season but Kobe led the Lakers to a 50-32 mark and a 5th seed in the NBA playoffs.
For the first time in his career Bryant was named to both All-NBA and All-NBA defensive teams. Kobe also embarked on a historic scoring run. With the Lakers losing ground and thoughts of them missing the playoffs the “Mamba” scored 40 or more points in 9 consecutive games. Kobe would average 40.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.9 APG, and 2.2 steals for the month of February. Bryant averaged 30 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 5.9 APG for the 2002-2003 season.
The Lakers would defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round but be ousted in the Conference Semifinals 4-2 by the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs would go on to win the NBA championship. Kobe averaged 32 PPG, 5 RPG, 5 APG but shot only 43% in that series.
The 2006-2007 season was Dwyane’s 4th. He was 25 years old and Shaquille O’Neal went down with an injury once more. Wade was coming of an NBA Finals MVP but the Heat would suffer without O’Neal. Miami struggled to a 20-25 mark until “Superman” came back and saved the day. The Heat won 7 of their next 8 games and landed a 4th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Dwyane averaged 27.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 7.5 APG during the regular season.
Wade suffered a late season injury but returned for the final few regular season games and the playoffs. The Heat were swept by the Chicago Bulls in the first round. Wade struggled against the Bulls, a team that would be eliminated in the very next round, Dwyane’s series averages were 23.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 6.3 APG, 6 TO, and like Kobe’s series versus the championship Spurs, Dwyane shot 43%.
So who’s better?
Neither player has won a championship without Shaquille O’Neal. Obviously, both Kobe and Dwyane have benefited a great deal from playing with Shaq.
Their championship season playoff averages are nearly identical. Wade won a Finals MVP by demolishing the Mavericks almost single handedly. Some of that could be attributed to the misplaced defensive attention payed to O’Neal and the lack of defense from the Dallas Mavericks. Not to take anything away from Wade’s performance in last year’s NBA Final but Baron Davis nearly replicated his performance in Golden State’s first round upset of Dallas this postseason.
Kobe has been the better defender and displayed a greater defensive mentality at an earlier age. Kobe is a 7 time All-NBA defender, having been named to the first team 5 times beginning at the age of 21 and the second team 2 times. In four seasons in the league Wade has only been named to the NBA’s second defensive team once, at the age of 22.
Both players have struggled without the benefit of the “Big Aristotle” but Kobe has always been able to lead his team to a record greater than .500 and a playoff birth in the much more competitive Western Conference. Kobe’s 2002-2003 season is eerily similar to Wade’s 2006-2007 campaign without Shaq and yet Kobe was far more successful and at nearly the same age.
Bryant was first team All-NBA and All-NBA defense this season. Kobe averaged a league high 31.6 PPG and also tallied 5.7 RPG and 5.4 APG. The Lakers were dealt key injuries this season as well as Kobe, Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown, and Luke Walton played less than 20 games with one another.
However, the Lakers never fell below .500. Kobe also embarked on another historic scoring run. Bryant scored 50 points in 4 straight contests and scored 50 points in 10 regular season games in the 2006-2007 season, leading the undermanned Lakers to a 7th seed in the Western Conference playoffs and first round match up with the Phoenix Suns.
Wade averaged 27.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 7.5 APG. Dwayne was named to All-NBA third team and was left off both of the All-NBA defensive teams.
Kobe Bryant is and has been the better player
Dwyane is a far more explosive player than Bryant. Wade’s explosiveness combined with the new defensive rules make it almost impossible to guard him but he isn’t as skilled as Bryant.
Bryant is a better defender and possesses a far more balanced offensive repertoire. Kobe is a better three point shooter and his mid range jumpshot far exceeds Dwyane’s. Both players are credible passers when motivated to do so. However, Dwayne has played on a better team the past three seasons.
Early in Kobe’s career he displayed a the ability to lead his team without Shaquille and has led his team to two playoff births in the much more competitive Western Conference the past two seasons. There are some that believe Shaq carried Kobe to his three NBA championships but that simply was not the case.
Shaq always played big in the NBA Finals because he knew what was at stake. Shaq and Kobe’s relationship was always a contentious one. The Diesel was never going to let Bryant win an Finals MVP and to his credit Kobe never forced the issue or was forced to. Bryant’s playoff averages compared to Shaq during those playoff runs are closer than you may think. It was Kobe who closed out many classic playoff series versus the likes of the Portland Trailblazers, Sacramento Kings, and this year’s NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs.
Bryant has three rings. Dwyane has one. It could be argued that Shaq was more responsible for Kobe’s than he was Wade’s but their paths to the Finals weren’t comparable either.
Shaq was a better player in his days with the Lakers but they faced better teams as well. It took Shaq AND Kobe to win those three rings.
Dwyane’s performance against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals was historic but Bryant scored 62 points in 3 quarters versus that team during that regular season. Is it far fetched to believe that Kobe would’ve done the same in those NBA Finals?
Kobe’s accomplishments far exceed Dwyane’s and as I pointed out it is possible to compare them at the same stage of their careers. When comparing their skills and the age at which they’ve reached their distinguished awards it’s obvious that Bryant is and has been the better basketball player.
