Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports activities
Outdoors of a short 46-game stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Corridor of Fame 2-guard Dwyane Wade solely wore the No. 3 jersey in his spectacular profession. Backed by his 13 All-Star appearances, his eight All-NBAs and, most significantly, his three championships and one Finals MVP, Wade was our decide as the most effective participant ever to don the long-lasting No. 3, though he had some severe competitors, specifically within the type of Chris Paul and Allen Iverson.
Talking of Iverson, Wade mentioned at his Corridor of Fame induction ceremony that he “respectfully” wore the No. 3 in faculty and the professionals due to him:
“Michael Jordan was my favourite participant. However as I used to be rising up as a child, as Michael Jordan determined to retire from the sport, Allen Iverson grew to become the hero of our tradition,” Wade mentioned. “I feel lots of people know I put on No. 3, however lots of people don’t know why I put on No. 3. And so I simply wished to take this second as a chance that’s speculated to be about me, and I wished to have the ability to shine gentle and provides flowers to people that enable me and assist me get right here,” Wade added.
Wade additionally mentioned again in 2011 that he wore the No. 3 in honor of the holy trinity.
Wade has worn different numbers all through his basketball profession. He wore No. 25 in highschool, in addition to No. 9 on a number of events, each in Cleveland and with Staff USA within the ‘06 World Championships and the ‘08 Olympics. Within the ‘04 Olympics, Wade wore No. 6.
Wade’s good pal, LeBron James, truly needed to negotiate with then-rookie Cedi Osman, who was initially slated to put on No. 9 with the Cavs earlier than Wade determined to affix the crew and selected that as his quantity. Whether or not Wade needed to pay Osman for the quantity has by no means been made public data.
Wade selected No. 9 within the Olympics as a tribute to Michael Jordan, who iconically wore the quantity within the ‘92 Olympics as a member of the Dream Staff. Wade and James traded numbers as Staff USA members after a short and straightforward dialogue about it:
One participant who did search 9 due to Jordan was James’ pal Dwyane Wade, who was given six for the 2004 Olympics.
After these Video games, James and Wade traded numbers.
“I’m taking a look at him like, ‘Bro, I really need quantity 9,’” Wade mentioned. “And he’s like, ‘Excellent, ‘trigger I really need quantity six.’ And so it was a straightforward swap.”
Wade led the 2008 Redeem Staff in scoring.
Now, Wade, nice as he was, did have some very powerful competitors, and though we did finally decide him, Paul particularly made this a really tough alternative. Paul has worn No. 3 in any respect seven of his stops within the NBA and has three extra All-NBA appearances than Wade did in his profession. Regardless, we went with Wade primarily based on the very fact he was capable of lead his personal crew to a championship as its greatest participant, whereas Paul has had his share of playoff shortcomings.
Most lately, Spurs ahead Keldon Johnson willingly gave up his No. 3 jersey in San Antonio, which he wore as a result of he admired Paul. Johnson switched to No. 0, although, so Paul may maintain his No. 3 jersey.
Simply to indicate simply how loopy this quantity stuff can get for gamers, in keeping with Paul and Wade, the duo virtually grew to become teammates in Miami, with James, however the plans finally fell by way of… as a result of they couldn’t resolve which certainly one of them would put on No. 3.
Wade says a part of the convo went as follows:
Wade: That’s my quantity!
Paul: Nicely, that’s my quantity. What are we going to do? CP6? Naw, that ain’t it.
….
Wade: I wasn’t going to D-9. I’ll sacrifice getting touches, I’ll sacrifice getting probably the most cash. However I’m not giving up my quantity!
Simply how facetious the duo was being on the podcast isn’t completely clear, however Wade was adamant that after everybody was getting excited concerning the potential to crew up on South Seashore and had talks on the telephone about it, the dialogue about who would put on the No. 3 “ended the entire dialog”.
The quantity three may need price Miami a dynasty within the ‘10s.
Runner-ups: Chris Paul, Allen Iverson, Anthony Davis
