This week, former NBA guard Jeff Teague generated buzz by stating that he would rank James Harden ahead of Dwyane Wade on an all-time list.
Teague pointed out that Wade had the advantage of playing with Shaq and LeBron James, while the Miami Heat struggled when they were on their own.
Teague argued that Harden was better than Wade. However, on a recent episode of “First Take,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith disagreed and expressed his preference for Wade due to his ability to function as a team player.
Smith acknowledged Harden’s individual brilliance, particularly his shooting prowess and one-on-one skills, but stressed the importance of being a team player. Smith challenged Teague’s assertion, emphasizing that being a team player and understanding how to recruit and maintain teammates is crucial.
“To me, it’s D-Wade. Mad respect to Jeff Teague who can ball – good dude as well. But let me say this to Jeff Teague: You know better. You know it’s a team sport,” Smith said. “Yes, individually, James Harden was spectacular and unstoppable – the handle, the step-back 3’s, the shooting prowess. D-Wade could never shoot like Harden could. He wasn’t the one-on-one player that Harden was. So I understand what Teague is saying, but the reason I’m challenging him is because it’s not all it entails.
“You have to know how to be a team player. You can’t recruit players but every time you recruit them you want them out.”
Watch SAS explain below:
.@stephenasmith says Dwyane Wade is a better SG than James Harden ? pic.twitter.com/LOfkqOwxkN
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 28, 2023
Many basketball fans are aligning with Smith’s perspective, noting that while Harden may have stronger individual statistics, Wade has enjoyed more team success.
It is also worth noting that Wade was a formidable force before his injury.
Glad that’s finally settled.
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