No to Zo

I’m not hatin’ on the man. Not the day after he had his number retired. No I’m not. He deserves it, no question.

But since the occasion has caused NBA journalists to raise the big question — “Does Zo belong in the Hall of Fame?” — I’m chipping in my two cents: No.

Think of other bigs who played during the Zo era:

Hakeem: 21-11-3 (career avgs), 2 titles, 12-time All Star
Shaq: 26-12-2 (career avgs), 3 titles,* 14-time All Star
Robinson: 21-11-3 (career avgs), 2 titles, 10-time All Star
Ewing: 21-10-2 (career avgs), 0 titles,** 11-time All Star

Compared to...

Zo: 17-9-3 (career avgs), 0 titles,* 7-time All Star

Just a notch below, isn’t he? A very, very good player. A hard worker and a humanitarian. But not Hall of Fame.***

-G

*The one D-Wade won for him doesn’t count.
**No, Ewing never won a ring. But those Knicks teams always went deep in the playoffs. By contrast, with Zo at the helm, those Heat teams never did shit.
***If you see Zo as an on-the-fence HOF candidate, isn’t this where the annoying, barking, chest-pounding way he carried himself on the court should come into play? Tip him to the “no” side, please.

Could D-Wade end up being a better player than Lebron?

"Mr. Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr., if he's not legitimately considered for an MVP candidate, I don't know what he needs to do,"

-Heat coach Erik Spoelstra


"I don't know what the [MVP] voters want. But whatever they're looking for, I'm pretty sure D-Wade has it."

- King James


It's clear Wade is having his best season. It's clear he could end up having the best regular season of anyone in the league. Given his personality and the nature of his game, do you believe he could viewed as a better player than LeBron when it's all said and done?

I would argue that, right now, a healthy D-Wade is a better all around player than King James. He's also a guy that most guys in the league would want to play with. He's a superstar who's not a narcisist. He's already carried a team all the way to the mountaintop. Plus, he's got a chip on his shoulder from being in first Shaq's, now Bron-Bron's, shadow.

People keep talking about what LeBron can do once he learns how to do x and y. Simultaneously, D-Wade has the most polished offensive game of anyone in the league other than Kobe. If LeBron ever masters a mid-range game and tightens up his long-range shooting, he will only have caught up to D-Wade. Wade can finish in traffic; absorb contact and make shots. He can be counted on in the clutch. Wade is also more creative off the dribble. LeBron is Jim Brown. D-Wade is Walter Payton.

This is no dig at King James. I'm just saying, we may be severely underestimating Wade's potential to be the best player of his generation. It's this foregone conclusion that LeBron will win 5 rings and dominate the league. I'm not so sure. He could. But, if Miami got Boozer in the offseason (likely) and another couple pieces, they could easily become the team to beat in the East. Orlando's good, but Superman ain't got nothing on D-Wade. LeBron has more potential, but Wade is probably the better player right now. LeBron's still a work in development, while D-Wade's seems to be in his prime. And who's to say all LeBron's boundless potential ultimately gets fulfilled?