Victor Wembanyama And Dwyane Wade Could Share Bond After NBA Finals

Twenty years ago, Dwyane Wade made history for the Miami Heat. 

He led the Heat to the first championship in franchise history after leading them a victory against the Dallas Mavericks. After falling down 2-0, the Heat won straight games to clinch it. 

Wade had one of the most memorable performances in NBA Finals history, averaging 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.7 steals and one block. Some compared it those made by the great Michael Jordan, especially considering Wade overshadowed Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal that series. 

Wade also won a title in just his third season, eliminating the stress of chasing rings later in his career. Flash forward to this season's NBA Finals. Another third-year player is trying to win his first ring. 

This time, it's San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. He is four wins from accomplishing the same feat but has to rally his team from a 1-0 deficit against the New York Knicks. Game 2 is tonight at Frost Bank Center. 

Wade discussed the possibility of Wembanyama matching his feat on the WyNetwork. 

“That’s a different conversation," Wade said. "You don’t know unless you’ve done that before. A lot of people like to talk about what this player is or isn’t, but have you ever lead a team to the finals in your third year? We watching Wemby do that right now."

The only difference is Wembanayama was more expected to reach this level than Wade, at least at a faster pace. Wembanyama was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, with many calling him a generational talent. Wade was more of a "wait-and-see" prospect when the Heat took him No. 5 in the 2003 draft, which also included LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony. 

But Wade said Wembanyama has everything in place for him to join this rare group. 

"He has all the pieces, just like I did," Wade said. "… I was like ‘I gotta take advantage of this. I have to be special.’ I knew I had to be special. I knew I couldn’t be regular season good. I end up discovering a player I’ve never seen before. That guy who averaged 34.7 in the finals? I never seen him before. I never had to perform like that.”

MORE HEAT NEWS 

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The latest on ex-Heat guard Terry Rozier's gambling scandal 

Is it Giannis Antetokounmpo or bust for Heat? 

Aside from Giannis, who else can the Heat target this summer? 

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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of HeatRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected]