Allen Iverson & Dwyane Wade: Has Wade Inherited Iverson's Old Role?

Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade have more than a jersey number and the shooting guard position in common. The parallels between their careers are interesting. With Wade wearing one ring and Iverson still with a naked hand, there are obvious differences, but playing on teams full of role players, missing the second punch, both Wade and Iverson have known similar burdens.

In 2001 Allen Iverson was the NBA MVP, the All-Star MVP, had the second most steals and led the league in points and points per game with 31.1 per contest. He took his team to the Finals, playing injured, and handed the Lakers their only loss of the postseason in game one.

Iverson and the Sixers could go no further. They continued to make the playoffs in subsequent years, but failed to put together a strong enough team to again challenge for a championship.

At that time, Iverson said he didn't want to be the one player on the team that everyone always counted on. He needed help. He couldn't do it alone.

Eric Snow and Aaron McKie were at the ends of their careers, unable to play full seasons with the effectiveness of 2001. Mutumbo was not a scorer. Iverson's 30 points every night were not enough to get the team deep into the playoffs.

You could see Iverson wearing down bit by bit. It wasn't that his effort or talent waned. Success simply was not in the cards for those 76ers teams. The hope was gone. The hope was worn out.

In Miami, Dwyane Wade had a stellar first three seasons. Making the playoffs with Lamar Odom in his first season, Wade saw the big stage and showed his potential. After what turned out to be a very potent trade for both teams, Shaq came to the Heat from LA and Odom set out for the west coast where he eventually earned his first ring.

The Heat went to the Finals with Shaq and Wade (in his 3rd season) leading the way. Then Wade went nuts. He took over the Finals series and won with a scoring average of nearly 35 points per game.

In the aftermath of victory, Wade found a series of defeats. From injury to injury, Miami's number 3 found himself and his team hobbled.

Yet the pressure to succeed remained. The pressure was and is focused on Wade now because he is the one top-tier player on the team. Jermaine O'Neal is certainly still talented as is Michael Beasley. But these two aren't making the All-Star team this year - they won't come close. I mean no disrespect to these two when I say they aren't All-Stars.

Watching Wade this season play with the "new" O'Neal is reminiscent of watching Iverson play with a veteran Chris Webber. The veteran capable of score, but best suited to a role as third option in the starting rotation.

The situation for Wade, so similar to Iverson's situation before leaving Philly, makes for a hard pill to swallow for an All-Star. He has the spotlight, in which he has so often been spectacular, but added to it is a new scrutiny.

Will D. Wade take the same road Iverson did? As a free agent next summer, he won't need to demand any trades or make a fuss. He can just leave.

Whatever the outcome, as a fan, I'd like to see Wade visit the vaunted stage once again and play in the Finals. I'd like to see Iverson get there too and go out on a high note when he does finally decide to retire.

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To listen to Iverson's critics, Iverson is player who looks for his own game first to the detriment of his teammates. If you look at the history of the teams he has played on, you will see right away that Iverson's game was his teammates game. The load was placed on his shoulders. His style of shoot-first play was formed out of necessity.

Kobe Bryant was criticized (between early and later career championships) for his "me me me" mentality also. Of course, he adjusted his game and won the MVP trophy when the players around him got better.

What would have happened to Kobe and his mentality if his team didn't improve as it did?

This question directly pertains to Mr. Wade. What will happen to him if he continues to play as the lone "Big Gun" contending against teams that feature combos like Bryant-Gasol-Bynum-Artest and Garnett-Allen-Pierce-Rondo; James-O'Neal-Williams; Howard-Carter-Nelson-Lewis?

Wade is great but, in the end, he can only wear one jersey at a time.

Statistics:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/