Luka’s Corner

After finishing up their exhibition schedule, the US team arrived in Beijing on Wednesday. They had a perfect record in the pre-Olympic games, finishing 5-0, and it was not Kobe Bryant or LeBron James (the two "best in the world") that led the team in scoring. Instead, it was the one player that most people doubted after sustaining shoulder/knee injuries and leading his team to a 15-win season in 07-08. That player is Dwyane Wade.

D-Wade averaged 18 PPG for his country’s team and, at times, looked like the best player on the US team. He penetrated and finished, he penetrated and dished, and he even knocked down several midrange jumpers. The Miami Heat star looked like he was 100% healthy for the first time in two years. But, not only did he look completely healthy, he looked better than those teammates that have overshadowed him so many times while representing his country: KB24 and LBJ.

Few people remember the day that there was conversation whether or not Wade could be the best player in the NBA, ahead of Kobe and LeBron. After an impressive outing in the ‘06 Finals, he looked like he had just as much, if not more, potential as his friend and fellow ‘03 draftee (LeBron James). With the current form that he is showing, Wade just now might be entering the "best player in the world" discussion. After all, Kobe is about to be past his prime and Wade is just entering his prime (LeBron still has a few years to go).

Especially in the narrow win against Australia, Wade was the only player on the roster who was looking to create scoring for his teammates. Instead of trying to beat the whole Aussie team, he set his mind on beating one defender and deciding what he would do from there. Unlike Kobe, who needs to decide whether to pass or score before each game, Wade simply lets the game come to him. Not to mention that he is probably the best at getting to the rim on the entire US squad and possesses the best midrange jumper. That is why he may actually play the biggest role in bringing the gold medal back to America.