Miami – On June 14, 2003, the Nuggets were eager to pick up Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony from Denver International Airport for his first visit to Denver. The pending arrival of the 2003 Final Four’s most outstanding player overshadowed a morning workout by Marquette guard Dwyane Wade.
Little local media attention was paid to Wade. All eyes were on Anthony, whom the Nuggets later drafted third overall. Jeff Bzdelik, then the Nuggets’ coach, was on board with that decision but felt he had met a star in the making after working out Wade.
“It was obvious that Dwyane Wade was special,” said Bzdelik, now the coach at Air Force. “He had a unique ability to get to the rim from any region of the court. I remember sitting in my office with him, and he was very curious about scouting reports. He paid great attention to it.”
Wade was chosen fifth overall by the Miami Heat, which is one victory from advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time – thanks in large part to the team’s young superstar.
“He’s great because he listens and he does it like Magic Johnson used to do it – very unselfishly,” Heat center Sha- quille O’Neal said.
The players drafted ahead of Wade – LeBron James, Darko Milicic, Anthony and Chris Bosh – are home watching Wade top himself game after game. Wade scored 31 points in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals to help Miami pull away from the Detroit Pistons and take a 3-1 lead in the series, which continues tonight at Detroit. In the playoffs he is averaging 27.3 points, 6.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds. Against Detroit, he has averaged 30.8 points while shooting an incredible 69.5 percent.
Asked if Wade’s postseason performance reminded him of Johnson and Michael Jordan, Miami coach Pat Riley said: “He’s right there. He’s special.”
Told of Riley’s comments, Wade said he was flattered but knows there is a big difference between him and Jordan and Magic: Jordan won six NBA titles with the Bulls, Johnson five with the Lakers. Wade, 24, has his team in position for its first.
“I’m just a kid (who) loves to play the game of basketball, getting the opportunity to on the highest level, and I’m just trying to do my best job at it,” Wade said. “Those guys, I’m not even close to that. I’ve got to win a lot of championships to get there.
“I’m just a kid in a candy store right now trying to have one. We’re one of the best teams in the NBA, and I’m getting a chance to show my ability.”
After Wade’s workout in Denver, then-Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said the All-American was a certain lottery pick. Wade was hopeful the Nuggets would give him strong consideration.
“They’re a team that’s on the rise,” Wade said after his workout at the Pepsi Center.
Bzdelik said after the workout that if the Nuggets weren’t able to land Anthony he would have no problem adding Wade. Three years later, Bzdelik is not surprised Wade became an all- rookie selection, a two-time all-star and an Olympian and has one of the NBA’s hottest selling jerseys.
“I saw him in person and on film,” Bzdelik said. “He combined great, unique talent with a great mental approach to the game, and that’s rare.”
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
