America’s ultimate Olympic dream team starts with Jordan, Bryant and James, you can fill in rest from there, Wade says
- Only big three guaranteed spot in all-time squad according to 2008 gold medallist Dwyane Wade
- Miami Heat star says Carmelo Anthony ‘greatest winner’ for his three golds and points record
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If Dwyane Wade was picking his roster of Team USA’s all-time Olympic greats, only three players would be automatic picks.
The 2008 gold medallist, said if a team had Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, you could pick anyone else from the teams that had competed since the Barcelona Games in 1992 to fill out the roster.
That would include Carmelo Anthony, who has won three golds and is his country’s record point scorer at the Games, achievements that led Wade to label him “the greatest Olympian winner”.
“But it’s tough, I am going to miss so many players that have played in the Olympics,” Wade said.
Speaking to the Post on the sidelines of the GBA International Sports Business Summit in Macau, the 42-year-old said the 1992 Dream Team, the 2008 Redeem Team and the 2012 London Team were the best he had seen at an Olympics.
With three places going to Jordan, Bryant and James, the rest of the roster could read like a who’s who of NBA stars.
“You got Kevin Durant, you got Carmelo Anthony, you got me, you got Charles Barkley, we got John Stockton and Chris Paul, there are so many so it’s hard to pick 12.
“So, I’ll say, close your eyes on those three teams, and as long as you got those three players, then you can pick anybody else.”
Having only been inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame last August, the Miami Heat legend will be honoured again later this year, when the Florida franchise unveils a statue of him in front of the Kaseya Centre.
“I never thought that I would have a statue,” the three-time NBA champion said. “But to be able to put your body of work together and to be able to walk away and somebody view you as a statue, that’s got to be the ultimate goal.
“Everybody can’t get on the Mount Rushmore, it’s only four people can get on that. But if you can walk away with a statue, you’ve done some work.”
Wade will be the first Heat player to have his own statue and the 13-time All-Star said he was “appreciative” to be part of the organisation.
“I know how blessed I am as well to have got drafted to a place that didn’t have a rich history yet,” the Chicago native said. “I am one of the first ones, as many players before me, that will last many, many years after I am not around, so, you know, obviously it means a lot.”
While Wade would not reveal the pose he had picked for his own statue, he said it would “capture a moment” all fans know.
The 2006 NBA Finals MVP also said he could not compare the different honours he had received after his playing days.
“Having a statue of me was good for my inner narcissistic personality,” he said. “But you can’t compare them, it’s so many things and so many checkpoints.
“When you come into the NBA, it’s huge when you get your first All-Star Game. The championship, it’s huge, so all these milestones are the cream of the top.
“If you want to be known as one of the greats, you’re going to have to check off these things. And so, even though I’m one of those players that will be forgotten about in certain conversations, you can’t forget about me in the history of the game.”
