Dwyane Wade reveals the one thing that stopped him from dethroning Michael Jordan in the NBA GOAT debate

NBA icon Dwyane Wade has discussed the one thing he felt held him back from being considered alongside Michael Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

The Miami Heat icon was a 13-time All-Star led the Miami Heat to a first NBA title in franchise history in 2006.

Later, the 6ft 4ins shooting guard was joined in Miami by LeBron James and fellow All-Star Chris Bosh. Together, the 'big three' won two more championships, in 2012 and 2013.

After spells with the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wade returned to the heat for one final season before his retirement in 2019.

Over a 17-year career, he averaged 22 points per game, plus 4.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists.

Speaking to former NBA player Carmelo Anthony on his podcast, 7PM in Brooklyn, Wade explained how it was only injuries in his career that prevented him from chasing down Jordan's legacy.

"I'm not the greatest shooter of all time, but I was great at so many different things," Wade said. "No one knows how to really break down my game... Before injuries, I'm like [Michael Jordan]. I'm coming for you."

Jordan, widely considered to be the greatest NBA player of all time, played the same position as Wade.

The Chicago Bulls legend won six NBA titles and was named the league's MVP five times.

Wade's status as a Miami Heat icon was marked earlier this week with a statue erected outside the team's home arena.

Etched in history forever...

Dwyane Wade's statue has officially been unveiled 🔥pic.twitter.com/igKC5g9osz

— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2024

But the statue has sparked ridicule on social media for how little resemblance in bears to the former player.

"Sitting down with the Miami Heat and myself, what we wanted to do was capture a moment that represented the organisation, represented myself, and represented the city," said of the statue.

"We felt like we captured that moment in an artistic form, in an artistic way.

"If I wanted it to look like me, I would just stand outside the arena, and y'all would take photos. It don't need to look like me. It's an artistic version of a moment that happened that we're trying to cement."