“Lot Worked in D-Wade Favor,” Kevin Durant Defends Former Teammate James Harden in Heated Dwyane Wade Debate

Kevin Durant had his say on the James Harden and Dwyane Wade debate.

“Lot Worked in D-Wade Favor,” Kevin Durant Defends Former Teammate James Harden in Heated Dwyane Wade Debate

Kevin Durant on Dwyane Wade vs James Harden (Image credits - Firstsportz)

In Short
  • Kevin Durant defends James Harden in the ongoing debate about him versus Dwyane Wade.
  • Durant argues that Wade benefited from a strong Miami Heat organization and didn't have to do as much for his championships.
  • Fans largely disagree with Durant, citing Harden's playoff struggles as a reason Wade should be ranked higher.

Kevin Durant is the latest NBA personality to get into the James Harden vs Dwyane Wade debate. There has been a lot of talk surrounding the two stars on who is the better shooting guard. Both players have achieved a lot of success in their careers and were a force to reckon with in their primes. While Wade announced his retirement in the 2018-19 season, Harden still remains active.

With the debate raging on for a while now, Durant shared his thoughts on the two players.

Pat Riley, the Miami Heat organization, a lot worked in D-Wade’s favor for him to win that championship. I don’t feel like D-Wade’s style of play is more conducive to winning than James. I feel like they both are winning players who can contribute to great teams. D-Wade didn’t have to do as much for the last two championships.

Kevin Durant on Unguarded Podcast

Kevin Durant has played in the NBA for 18 years now. He has played against some of the best players in the game and knows what it takes to be an all-time great. The two-time champion has clashed against the two shooting guards on multiple occasions, including the playoffs.

it is difficult to compare the two players. But if there is one thing that plays a major factor in separating the two, it is the championships. Dwyane Wade has three championships to his name and was named the Finals MVP when he carried the Miami Heat to the title in 2006.

Meanwhile, James Harden is still searching for his first ring. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest offensive players in the game, but has often come up short in the playoffs. He was named the league MVP in 2018 and has won three scoring titles.

While he is not the scoring machine he once was, he has shown he is still an elite guard this season. His move to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline is a big move as both the player and the franchise are looking to win the championship this year.

Fans react to Kevin Durant’s stance on the James Harden-Dwyane Wade debate

Kevin Durant has played alongside James Harden during their time in Oklahoma and most recently in Brooklyn. The two made it to the NBA Finals in 2011 but were beaten by the Heat, led by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

It was not very surprising that Durant argued for Harden, as the two are good friends. Following his comments on the two, the NBA community was quick to react to them on social media.

Many fans disagreed with Durant’s take. The majority of them pointed to Harden’s shortcomings in the playoffs as one of the main reasons why Wade should be ranked higher than the beard.

Stan Van Gundy picks Dwyane Wade over James Harden

In terms of individual accolades and numbers, James Harden does have an advantage over Dwyane Wade. However, Harden’s style of play has often been criticized as it does not lead to winning basketball. It has worked in the regular season, but a lot is left to be desired in the playoffs.

James Harden and Dwyane Wade
James Harden and Dwyane Wade (Image credits – The New York Times)

Former NBA coach and TV commentator Stan Van Gundy picked Wade over the former MVP.

My argument for Dwyane would be defensive end of the floor he’s better than Harden. At the end of the game there’s no one in the history of the league I would rather have with the last shot than Dwyane Wade. His commitment to winning. He took a step back for LeBron to get a chance to win in a place he already won a championship. He was a dominant force in winning a championship. I’m not sure anybody has had a better NBA finals than Dwyane Wade did in 2006.

Stan Van Gundy on Zach Lowe Show

While Wade did win two of his championships with LeBron James, he has the 2006 championship to his name. However end of the day, both players have achieved immense success in their careers and were even named in the NBA Top 75 list.

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