“Everything Went Numb”: Dwyane Wade, Who Was #5 Draft of 2003 Class, Expected to Play For the Chicago Bulls Instead of Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade might not bag a top-10 or even top-20 spot in most fans’ and experts’ greatest of all-time lists but the electrifying guard, in his heyday, the Heat legend was second to none on a basketball court.

However, when was about to make it to the league in 2003, in what is arguably the greatest Draft class of all time, the Chicago-based highly recruited shooting guard was expecting to get selected by his hometown franchise, the Bulls.

But, to his own surprise, the Miami Heat, who had the 5th pick in the draft picked him earlier than anybody’s expectations.

Also read: “LeBron James is a Sponge!”: Dwyane Wade Tried to Explain How The Billionaire King Evolved During His Time in Miami

When Dwyane Wade Talked About his Draft Class

In an appearance on the Knuckleheads podcast following his retirement from the NBA in 2019, Dwyane Wade, had a long chat with former players Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson.

Like the rest of the country, he was assured that he’ll be picked somewhere from #4 to #20 after LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh get selected.

But getting picked as the number 5th pick just blew his mind and “everything went numb,” for him, as at the time he thought he’d get to play for the Bulls who had the 7th pick in the hands and were in dire need of a guard with Jay Williams getting into a career-ending injury.

Numb with happiness.

Wade was excited to be the 5th pick and play in Miami

If Darko Milicic wasn’t picked so high (#2), D-Wade would have played in either the Denver Nuggets (who picked Carmelo) or the Toronto Raptors (who picked Bosh), but thanks to Detroit Pistons for doing that and letting these legends create what they created.

And among that lot was somebody who was so humble that he was surprised to be picked up by the Heat. He became the most instant hit in the league, leading them to a championship in his third year.

Wade won the Finals MVP while averaging 34.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, playing alongside 3x Finals MVP Shaquille O’Neal. Although because of injuries his career did not attain the projection it shot for, he did end up among the NBA’s greatest 75 players of all time.

When you pick Mount Rushmore of shooting guards, this man would always be there in top-5 or probably even three, just behind Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

Also read: Gabrielle Union, Who Spent $5 Million To Wed Dwyane Wade, Felt ‘Naked’ When Stuck With Her Husband During The Pandemic

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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