Dwyane Wade Memorabilia Buying Guide

By Sean J. O'Rourke

Dwyane Wade is one of the top overall players in the National Basketball Association and was selected fifth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by Pat Riley and the Miami Heat. Since his rookie season Wade has become one of the most accomplished and celebrated players in the NBA. Hailing from the South Side of Chicago, Wade played college ball at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was barred from athletics his freshman year because of academic problems but led the Golden Eagles in scoring with almost 18 points per game his sophomore year. Wade made NCAA Tournament history in his junior season when his Marquette Golden Eagles took on the #1 ranked Kentucky Wildcats. With a chance to advance to the Final Four at stake, Wade delivered with 29 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, recording only the third triple-double in NCAA tournament history. Marquette defeated Kentucky 83-69 and advanced to the Final Four. Wade's big-time play in the tournament allowed him to garner much praise from scouts and media alike, and Wade decided to forego his senior season at Marquette and enter the NBA Draft.

The Heat used their fifth-overall pick on Wade who turned in a very solid season his rookie year despite being overshadowed by other mega-rookies LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Wade's 16.2 points per game average earned him a place on the 2003 NBA All-Rookie Team and a third-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting, behind only the aforementioned James and Anthony. After his rookie season the Heat traded him for future NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal. The combination of O'Neal's inside presence along with Wade's exceptional defense, great ability to drive to the basket and his improving perimeter shooting lead Miami to an Eastern Conference-best 59-23 record. Shaq, Wade and the Heat would sweep the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the playoffs as Wade averaged over 26 points per game. Wade elevated his game even higher by averaging 31 points per game as the Heat swept the Washington Wizards on their way to eventually losing to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. The next season, Wade averaged 27.2 points per game and led the Heat back to the NBA Playoffs. Shaq, Wade and the Heat would ultimately get their revenge on the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals as the Heat beat the Pistons in six games to advance to the NBA Finals against the high-powered Dallas Mavericks. With his team down 0-2 to Dallas, Wade delivered some of the greatest individual performances the NBA Finals had ever witnessed as he lead his team in games three, four and five by scoring 42, 36 and 43 points respectively. The Heat went on to take the series 4-2 and Wade was awarded the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.  Dwyane Wade has cemented himself as one of the NBA's most electrifying and talented players. Along with his stellar defensive play and emerging young Heat squad, Wade will continue to be one of the faces of the National Basketball Association and basketball worldwide.

In recent years the NBA has grown worldwide, stretching from the United States and Canada to Europe and now China. A league is only as good as the competition it offers and the NBA has no shortage of worldly talent. As the league's notoriety has ascended so has the value of the merchandise associated with its' elite players. Dwyane Wade along with other young superstars such as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant has seen demand for their memorabilia skyrocket coinciding with the NBA's ascending worldwide popularity. This trend will continue in coming years as the aforementioned superstars entire the prime of their careers while the NBA brand reaches every end of the earth.  That said, here is a list of the five Dwyane Wade items that would be key to have for your collection.

·        DWYANE WADE AUTOGRAPHED BASKETBALL: The Miami Heat superstar is known not only for his tremendous accomplishments in the NBA but also his growing role as an integral part of Team USA Basketball, for which he named co-captain in 2006. This authentic official Spalding NBA basketball hand-signed by 2006 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Dwyane Wade is a great addition for any sized sports memorabilia collection.

·        AUTOGRAPHED DWYANE WADE JERSEY - This is a chance to own a 100% authentic Miami Heat NBA jersey hand-signed by NBA Champion Dwyane Wade. Wade, who has had the #1 selling jersey in the National Basketball Association, is one of the sport's greatest talents. At 26-years old, Wade has already won an NBA Championship, been elected to four NBA All-Star Games and been named a co-captain of Team USA Basketball. Dwyane has hand-signed his authentic Miami Heat jersey in his famous number 3. This autographed authentic jersey is a perfect centerpiece for any NBA enthusiast’s collection.

·        DWYANE WADE PHOTOMINT - Relive one of the most exciting moments in NBA history with this Dwyane Wade framed photomint. With 1.9 seconds remaining in Game 5 of the 2006 NBA Finals, Dwyane Wade walked to the free throw line and hit two shots to give his team the victory. Own a great piece of NBA Finals history with this snapshot of Wade hitting the game-winning, Finals-altering shot against the Dallas Mavericks with only 1.9 seconds left on the clock. Wade was remarkable in the 2006 NBA Finals and was rewarded with the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.  Along with the great high-quality photo of the game-winning shot, this photomint contains a 24-karat gold NBA Finals coin and a 24-karat gold NBA Finals Champion Miami Heat coin. This is a must-have collectible for any Miami Heat or Dwyane Wade fan.

·        DWYANE WADE SIGNED JERSEY - DELUXE FRAMED - AUTHENTIC AUTOGRAPHED: This is without a doubt the perfect centerpiece for any fan of Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat or the NBA. This is an absolutely beautifully-framed authentic Miami Heat #3 Dwyane Wade jersey hand-signed by the 4-time All-Star and NBA Champion himself, along with two high-quality photographs of the one and only Dwyane Wade in both home and away uniforms. This collection is highlighted with top-quality black hardwood framing and is officially licensed by the National Basketball Association.

·        DWYANE WADE SIGNED PHOTO - 16x20: A perfect addition to any-sized NBA fan's memorabilia collection, this high-quality 16x20 photograph is hand-signed by Miami Heat superstar, NBA Champion Dwyane Wade. Wade is known for his daredevil, high-flying dunks that defy gravity. Along with his notoriety for high-flying acrobatics on the hardwood, Wade is associated with winning. He delivered Marquette a trip to the NCAA Final Four in 2003 before leading the Miami Heat to their franchise's first-ever NBA Championship in 2006. Wade is one of the NBA's brightest, most accomplished young players and is destined for continued future success as the face of one of the most prominent, popular franchises in all of sports, the Miami Heat.

Did you mean? Dwayne Wade, Dwayne, Dwane, Wayne, Wayde, Dwayde, Mimi Heat, Heet, Maimi, Mimai, Haet, NAB, Dwade, D Wade, Dane Wade, Dane Way, Dewayne Wade, Dewayne Wayde?