Sunday, June 18, 2006

Will Wade Ever Be Another Jordan?

Sam Eifling has a good puff piece on Wade in Slate this weekend titled "I want to be like Dwyane.

I lived in Chicago during the heyday of the greatest b-ball player of them all [and I saw Wilt play for Kansas and Bob Pettit for the Milwaukee Hawks, Kareem and the Big O for the Bucks, and Shaq for Orlando among other live experiences] and doubt if Dwyane will reach the stratospheric neighborhood Jordan dwelt in as a matter of habit. But he has a shot, and he is doing quite well for a 24-year old.

Trouble is, LeBron is Dwyane with a musculature and speed that exceeds belief, and is only 21! They have a chance to become the new Magic and Larry show, even if they don't reach Jordan's aura during Michael's era. Sam notes that Dwyane is the "most lovable" NBA player, like his teammate Shaq:

"Anyone who hasn't played pickup hoops against neighborhood teens lately can be forgiven for assuming that Jordan or James are the favorite objects of comparison. Kids who can't out-specimen other players the way LeBron does want to be compared to an artistic water bug—He's only 6 foot 4! And he looks like a choirboy!—who can find the hoop even with a forearm in his gut. This phenomenon may stop outside South Florida, but I doubt it. It's not for nothing that Wade's is the best-selling jersey in the country."

Okay, Marquette was my alma mater, but I still think Jordan will survive the twin phenoms of youth now entering NBA manhood.

1 comment :

Jordan said...

I think Wade finished the season playing better then lebron or carmelo even though he was picked after them. I would like to see how morisan turns out because Jordan is part owner of the bobcats.