Dwyane Wade Claims Every Era Has a Michael Jordan: “LeBron James is This Era’s Kobe Bryant. Kareem, Magic, Larry and the List Goes on”

We all hear about NBA greats playing before our time. For some, that player might be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. To ones growing up with the league today, that player could be LeBron James. While one person’s opinions can change, one cannot deny that all players from Bill Russell to James will be known as NBA greats.

Retired NBA icon Dwyane Wade, who spent most of his career playing for the Miami Heat, shared his own view about the same. Having grown up watching Michael Jordan, and having played with LeBron James, Wade’s views on the two stars are bound to be unique.

Let’s take a look at what Wade had to say about James, Jordan, and other NBA greats over time.

Dwyane Wade on LeBron James being this era’s Michael Jordan

Recently, Dwyane Wade was in conversation with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman on the podcast Armchair Expert. Shepard spoke about Wade growing up with Jordan as an idol, which he did know if he liked or not. As per Wade, however, everyone who watches basketball has a Jordan.

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It varies with every era, which is ultimately dominated by one player or the other. Wade believes it is LeBron James for this era. “Doesn’t everyone have a Jordan? Like everyone has a – LeBron is this era’s Kobe Bryant, Kareem or Magic (Johnson), Larry (Bird),” Wade said. “And the list goes on and on right. So I think everyone.” 

Shepard further added that while this might be true, Jordan is not on a passable level for now. Wade agreed, admitting that Jordan is on another level of ‘GOAT-ness’. He did, in the end, add that one must ‘keep living’, as he himself has seen players play better than him.

A look at Wade’s NBA career

Wade, who retired in 2019, is also considered an NBA great by many. He led the Heat to their 2006 NBA Championship, and then two more (2012 and 2013) with James on his team. He even played for the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016 to 2018 but chose to return to Miami for the remainder of his NBA time.

James, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, moved to play with the Cavaliers while Wade stayed back.

Jordan and James are often compared, the six-time NBA Champion a favorite to many. Many fans and experts argue that two different eras can never be compared, and one athlete might not better elsewhere. James has won four NBA titles, while Jordan has won six. Additionally, Jordan did so with one team, while James has won four titles with three different teams.

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Do you agree with what D Wade has to say? Is LeBron truly the Jordan of this era?