Kobe and Wade were elite defensively too at one point
this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2023
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Harden was much better than both offensively
No, he wasn't. Comparing stats across eras is dumb. Both these dudes were better offensively and significantly better defensively.
Doesnt Wade have like the most blocks for guards or smth ? He was a beast on d + he actually used his wingspan for defense not only for offense like more guards tend to do... looking at you D.Mitchell ...
Yes, most blocks by a guard all time. From a relatively undersized guard with bad knees. He had incredible timing
Actually MJ has him beat by 8 total blocks lol.
But yeah, Wade is definitely one of the best defensive guard all time.
Especially if you account for his size.
Most by any player under 6'4"!
Kobe 06-09 > DWade 09-11 > Harden 17-20
Wades peak was 06-10
Kobe had a great team but he was still on top of the world from 09-10.
If were talking about single moment in time, Wades at the end of the 05 finals probably wins.
1-Kobe, 2-Wade, 3-Harden. This is a dumb post.
Nah harden at peak was better. Too many nostalgia merchants
Based
Kobe is unmatched in this list. And Wade at his peak was some of the purest basketball ever played.
Kobe's peak is highest but not by much. No matter what you think about Harden right now, he was unstoppable at his absolute peak. Obviously as far as legacy and career, he is last between the 3.
There was a pretty long stretch where Harden was averaging 39 PPG.
As impressive Hardens scoring records are, Kobe destroys them all.
That finals run Wade had was incredible statistic wise and then I think the following Olympics he was probably best player...I think his peak maybe have been slightly higher than kobes but Kobe peak was longer
Kobe wins OP's question but 2008-2009 DWade was on another planet - probably my favorite season from a SG ever outside of MJ
100+ blocks by a guard especially one that is 6'4" was insane
Kobe then harden
Wade was really good in 2006 imo. I feel like I don't really see it mentioned the way it was to see it. I know that you look at his boxscore... nothing record-breaking. But he had that perfect mix of savvy and energy, something that most players are either too old or too young to have both at the moment.
Miami "only" won 52 games - but their score with Wade on court was waaaay better than the total suggests, which really says a lot considering that he played almost every game, and for 38 minutes. Wade played most of his minutes that season without Shaq on court, but that wasn't a big issue - lack of Wade was just completely cutting what that team was capable of though.
Funnily, that season might have also been the individual peak for Kobe Bryant, although his teams won so much more years before and years after. I still think that individually, it was very impressive what he was doing on the offense, the stuff he was doing then, it was really something special; and that one, I think almost everyone in the NBA did notice, way than more enough.
There is no argument for Kobe or Wade in the regular season over Harden, he was just flat out better.
So it comes down to playoffs, Harden had to play against the greatest team of all time in his prime so its not the fairest of comparisons. But I do believe he was at a higher level than Kobe ever reached in 2018, he just ran into the KD warriors and almost beat them which no other team has or had achieved.
I'd say Kobe probably edges out both, but it's not by that much. Peak Wade has the edge over him on defense IMO, and Harden was a much better playmaker, but Kobe had the total package. Kobe's career clears both though, and I'm saying that as a Celtics fan
Harden Kobe then Wade if we're actually just talking peak.
Harden was far above either of them on offensive playmaking
Harden was part of some historic offenses for sure, but it’s important to note that offenses since like 2016 have exploded in terms of average efficiency, mostly due to rule interpretations/changes and strategy (cutting out long 2s, 4/5 out spacing, etc). Thinking bball has a good video on this. It’s hard to look at Harden’s numbers and believe they are not hugely a product of the era. Harden might be a better pure passer than them, but he also benefits from playing in an era that maximizes that talent.
Thinking bball also has a good video on playoff drops offs which show no player sees a bigger drop off from regular season to the playoffs than Harden (if you ignore Steph’s playoff injuries): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BtL_zCF6qgQ
why is harden in this conversation
He's the only one who won an MVP.
Harden in the stripclub peaking higher than anyone.
Why you think they call him James “Harden” Harden.
Wade
kobe being including in this is so disrespectful lmao
On a season level it is very close between Kobe and Harden to me. Not Wade. You can basically choose either and have a legitimate argument. Wade had awesome seasons too obviously and major playoff runs, the Olympic run, but over the course of a few seasons, 1-2 seasons, don't think he has two seasons that compare to Kobe and Harden.
As a player outright it is Kobe clearly. Kobe put together runs that I think to this day are underrated. Harden's playmaking gravity is notable but Kobe's scoring gravity is too and he had the most of these three.
Kobe obviously is 1. OP must be mentally challenged.