Las Vegas – Being Dwyane Wade is one thing. Being D-Wade is quite another.
It means endorsing Converse shoes, Gatorade sports drinks and Sean Jean clothing. It means having the NBA’s best-selling jersey and being one of People magazine’s 50 most beautiful people.
Guard Dwyane Wade was all of those things before the 2006 NBA Finals. But after leading the Heat to a championship and winning the Finals MVP award, the spotlight has become even brighter on an athlete known as “D-Wade.”
“The main thing is, I’m more noticeable now,” Wade said during USA Basketball’s training camp. “When I go out, I get a lot of respect from a lot of people. That’s hard to come by, to get respect from a lot of different people. It changed for the better.”
The 15 players currently on USA Basketball’s active roster preparing for the world championships later this month in Japan is loaded with NBA stars, including LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
But from the day Team USA began training camp July 18, coach Mike Krzyzewski said the players have looked to Wade for leadership.
“They just won the NBA world championship,” Krzyzewski said. “He was MVP. Guys look up to him. He will be a key guy in that regard.”
The fifth overall pick in the 2003 draft – after James, Darko Milicic, Anthony and Chris Bosh – Wade is first in his class to win the title.
His performance in the NBA Finals against Dallas had observers comparing him to Michael Jordan. He may have surpassed James and Anthony in popularity.
“It makes me very proud,” Wade said. “I really had to work for everything I have now. To be at the same point as those guys and getting in the same conversation as great players means a lot.
“At the same time, I’m never satisfied. I always want to continue to get better and better. I’m looking forward to a future with Carmelo and LeBron and with the NBA. It’s great for the game. It’s great for the kids.”
Anthony doesn’t expect Wade’s added fame to go to his head.
“He has never been one of those guys that lets things get to him,” Anthony said. “He’s always been humble. That’s something I really like about him as a person.”
With fame comes added pressure. Wade should be an MVP candidate next season. And the Heat has the talent to repeat. Last month, Wade signed a four-year extension, which could be worth about $63 million.
“It’s all great when you can sign another contract,” Wade said. “That’s a tough thing to do when you can say that I’m coming back trying to (repeat).”
The biggest pressure for Wade could come with being a leader while attempting to re-establish USA Basketball as a world power.
The Chicago native was a member of the 2004 Olympic team that finished with a bronze, which led to an overhaul of how Team USA picks its team and prepares for international competition.
“Last time we were very disappointed,” Wade said. “A lot of us took it as a hit against us, a shot against us. Now we want to show that we are the best in the world.”
After Detroit guard Chauncy Billups was named MVP of the 2004 Finals, he not only became more noticeable but earned bragging rights.
“For that entire summer I could say I was the best basketball player in the world,” Billups said.
Now, Wade is getting the same attention.
“A couple years ago I wanted to be a star,” said Wade, 24. “But I didn’t want what came with it at the time. I wasn’t prepared. The only thing I can see in this light that I’m in is to continue to be who I am.
“I’m taking it all in stride and trying to be the best role model I can be while I’m in it.”
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
