At one point Dade County was known as “Wade County” and Dwyane Wade was the king of Miami.  Then King James decided to take his talents to Miami and Wade stepped aside for Lebron.  Add Chris Bosh to the mix and they became known as the “Big 3″.

Each player has an essential role on this superteam but people now question whether Wade fulfills his.  We live in a “what have you done for me lately” period and it seems people have forgotten he’s a 10-time All-Star, Scoring Champion, 3-time NBA Champion and an NBA Finals MVP.

Those accomplishments however have become secondary as over time we’ve seen Wade’s production and time on the court diminish.  Wade missed 28 games this season whether due to injury or he just needed rest.  Whatever the reason, it’s worked out because Wade is averaging 24.3 ppg against the Pacers and pulling out clutch performances when his team needs them.  But still people point out his decline and he doesn’t understand why.

“I don’t know why,” Wade said, laughing. “I think I’ve been good for the game. I don’t know why anybody would want to get me out of here. I don’t know. I have noticed that. And they’re quick to move me out of the way. But, you know, it just makes the story better. Because I won’t let them move me, I won’t leave. I mean, I’m only 32 years old. Like Chris (Bosh) said (to the media), it’s not like I’m 40-something. So, I don’t know. I guess it’s just the way they want to do me.”

“I tune it out from the standpoint that it’s not going to affect me, from the standpoint that I’m going to do what they want,” Wade said. “You know, sometimes it’s motivation. Because people don’t really understand exactly what it takes to be who I am, what it takes to be on this team, what it takes to be unselfish to be here, and all the things I have to deal with. You know, all people want to talk about is points. You know what I mean?”

Wade is averaging 24 points, six assists and five rebounds for his career and is winning championships despite being the on downside of his prime and graciously accepting a sidekick role .

“You had a good year because you scored 24 points (per) game,” Wade said. “You know, that’s a good year. And that’s all that people care about. They don’t really look at all the other things in this game. I guess when you get here, and people see you being a top-five leading scorer, and you’re not top-five, I guess you can’t play no more.”

So will Wade be appreciated more when he’s gone?

I always say that, that I’ll be appreciated more later, for what I was able to do, my height, my size and my time. But that later is going to come when I’m ready for it. Not when everyone else is. They were ready to throw me out three years ago.”

Quotes via Bleacher Report

– Shaina Auxilly (@Shay_Marie)