| In 2003, Wade became the first Marquette player since 1978 to be named First Team All-America by AP. He was also named Conference USA Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-C-USA. A talented scorer, Wade poured in 1,281 points in two seasons for the Golden Eagles and, in 2003, guided Marquette to its first NCAA Final Four appearance since 1977. Having gained the attention of the NBA, Wade was taken with the 5th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat. He instantly was embraced by the fans thanks to his incredible athleticism and skill on the court and overall good-guy demeanor off the court. With the team on his back, Wade carried the Heat into the second round of the 2004 Playoffs, far exceeding expectations, and earned NBA All-Rookie 1st-Team honors. In the 2004 offseason, the Miami Heat traded for Shaquille O'Neal, who has since tagged his sidekick Wade with the nickname "Flash", and the teammates now form one of the most dominant 1-2 punches in the league. Individually, Wade, who was selected to his first All-Star game in the 2004-2005 season, has electrified the entire league and its fans and is now considered one of the best and most explosive players in the league. This Indoor/Outdoor basketball is signed by Wade comes with a certificate of authenticity. |
