“But it’s tough and I’m going to miss a lot of the guys that were in the Olympics,” Wade said.
The 42-year-old told The Washington Post on the sidelines of the Greater Bay Area International Sports Business Summit in Macau that the 1992 Dream Team, the 2008 Redemption Team and the 2012 London Team were his Olympic successes. The best team I’ve ever seen.
Jordan, Kobe and James occupy three spots, and the rest of the roster reads like a who’s who of NBA stars.
“You’ve got Kevin Durant, you’ve got Carmelo Anthony, you’ve got me, you’ve got Charles Barkley, we’ve got John Stockton and Chris Paul, there’s so many, so it’s hard Pick 12.
“So, I would say, close your eyes and focus on these three teams and as long as you get these three players, then you can choose anyone else.”
The Miami Heat legend was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last August and will be honored again later this year when Florida State unveils a statue of him in front of the Kasea Center.
“I never thought I would have a statue,” the three-time NBA champion said. “But being able to put your work together and be able to walk away and have people see you as a statue, that has to be the ultimate goal.
“Everyone can’t climb Mount Rushmore, only four can. But if you can walk away with a statue, you’ve done something.”
Wade will be the first Heat player to get his own statue, and the 13-time All-Star said he’s “grateful” to be a part of the organization.
“I know how lucky I am to be drafted into a place that doesn’t have a rich history,” the Chicago native said. “I was one of the first players, like a lot of players before me, that’s going to last many, many years after I’m not around, so, you know, obviously it means a lot.”
While Wade wouldn’t reveal the pose he chose for his statue, he said it would “capture a moment” for all fans to know.
The 2006 NBA Finals MVP also said he couldn’t compare the different honors he received after his career.
“Having a statue of me is good for the narcissistic character inside me,” he said. “But you can’t compare them, there are too many things going on, too many checkpoints.
“When you get to the NBA, playing in your first All-Star Game is a big deal. Championships are huge, so all those milestones are top-notch.
“If you want to be one of the greats, you have to check these things. So even though I’m one of those players who will be forgotten in some conversations, you can’t forget me in the history of the game.”