Dwyane Wade is fluid, constant

Among the many great individual moments in Monday’s Game 4 between the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors, there was one play that will likely slip through the cracks. It is worth remembering. Early in the third quarter, Dwyane Wade drove past a defender, leapt toward the rim and, rather than simply laying the ball in, dumped it into the waiting hands of Amar’e Stoudemire, the struggling veteran who was starting in place of the injured Hassan Whiteside.

Stoudemire would collect the ball, miss a shot attempt but drew a foul in the process, sending him to the free throw line for two of his six points that night. There was nothing transcendent in the play, no acrobatic move by Wade to deliver a pass that seems routine after 13 seasons. But Stoudemire was being abused by the younger, quicker Bismack Biyombo during his limited moments on the floor and Wade’s effort on this play, overlooked and perhaps insignificant in the grand scheme of Miami’s overtime victory, kept Stoudemire involved and, if only for a brief time, made him an important part of the team’s success.

That this should happen once or twice over the course of any game isn’t noteworthy but stringing plays like this together for over a decade adds an often-overlooked aspect to Wade’s overall brilliance. He has remained flexible while still being dominant, fluid and immutable. He is water, fitting the shape of his team as it has evolved over the years, yet incredibly and inherently still the same.

This postseason has served as a microcosmic reminder of Wade’s excellence, one that’s been ignored in recent years, even while it’s been frequently on display. It’s evident when nearly every broadcaster reacts to a typical, impossible-made-real play by referring to it as “vintage Wade,” ignoring the fact that he’s never really gone out of style. The commonly accepted origins of Wade’s presumed downfall likely began as far back as 2012, when he was publicly criticized by TNT commentator Charles Barkley as “not the same guy.” Following offseason knee surgery, Wade struggled somewhat to regain his explosive ability, which led to this rash assessment from Barkley:

“He’s starting to lose his athletic ability. He’s not the same guy. I got a look at him in person. He doesn’t explode anymore and he’s shooting a lot of fadeaway jumpers.”

Wade would respond to Barkley’s criticism by shooting 80 percent in his next two games and over 56 percent over his next five. He would also be voted in as an All-Star, not just in 2012 but over the next three seasons as well, even as other, younger guards begin to reach the heights that Wade has scaled comfortably throughout his career. And while Wade might indeed have lost some of his incomparable explosiveness, he was still impactful and capable of dominance. If nothing else, the 2016 Playoffs have effectively proven that reports of Wade’s demise were absolutely premature.

But the truth behind why Wade is often dismissed is how his career has continuously evolved over time; like cupping water in your hands, a sole opinion doesn’t encompass the totality of his impact.

A rookie version of Wade flipped between both guard positions because he was simply too good to remain anchored to the bench for long. A playoff debut that same year served notice that a truly transformative player had begun to blossom. Yet, it was enough of a demonstration that it convinced Shaquille O’Neal that Miami was a team that could further add to his own legacy. And so a new phase of Wade’s career began, from neophyte to complementary superstar on a championship contender. Consider that for a moment: the 2016 rookie class, one of the greatest in recent years, has some incredibly talented players. But imagine the challenge for any of them, as they prepare for just their second season of professional basketball, to be paired along with an all-time, boisterous personality like O’Neal with stakes as high as a title. For Wade to have survived the experience, much less thrived as he actually did, speaks volumes that are often drowned out by the noise built over his NBA tenure.

In 2008, the reins to the team were handed exclusively to him and, once again, he didn’t disappoint, putting up the best numbers of his career. Miami, however, was out of contention and Wade’s role as the undisputed leader (with rookie Michael Beasley as his most talented sidekick) was dismissed as better teams (like Boston or Orlando) and individuals (namely LeBron James) deservedly stole the spotlight. And yet, this two-year gap (during which Wade and newly installed head coach Erik Spoelstra still led the team to the playoffs) was merely sandwiched between championship eras.

The formation of Miami’s “Big 3” in 2010 signaled yet another stage of Wade’s career arc, as he famously took a back seat to James’ singular talents. And, predictably, the shadow of James loomed large over everything that Wade and his teammates did. Wade’s production suffered but understandably so; a sacrifice was needed in order for the team to find success. If Barkley’s criticism seems misinformed in hindsight, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise considering the scrutiny that Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and the rest of the Cavaliers experience now that James has returned to that roster.

The 2014-15 season was Wade’s opportunity to again regain control of the team. But water can stagnate, as the stress of four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals took a significant toll, limiting Wade to just 62 appearances. And while he was effective — and, at times, dominant — the season was an unsuccessful one, as Miami missed the postseason for just the third time in Wade’s illustrious career.

In the 13th year of his NBA tenure, Wade was tasked with finding a way to blend his talents with other complementary players. He was joined by Chris Bosh for just over half the season. He had to share a backcourt with Goran Dragic. He needed to find a way to incorporate Whiteside’s limitless potential. It didn’t always work out and there were moments when it seemed that Wade’s age had finally limited his ability to become whatever was needed. But the playoffs, as they often do, helps enhance a player’s individual greatness, even in the context of team success. Shooters will shoot, defenders tighten the screws on opponents and superstars, will either shine or succumb to the brightest of lights. For Wade it’s been the former, even as Toronto’s All-Star duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have done the latter. That Wade has found a way to become an even better version of himself is mind-boggling. And that’s exactly what he’s done, at one point connecting on seven consecutive three-pointers, something he has never done over the 1000-plus games he’s been a part of and despite shooting just over 28 percent throughout his long, storied career.

Wade climbs ever-higher on the all-time playoff scoring list, surpassing other historic greats with every winding circus shot. He still dunks in traffic, defying age, aching knees and years of doubt. He finds a way, as he always has, to come up with the big play to help ensure that Miami has a chance to compete another day.

Even after amassing 68 points over his last two games, you wonder how much longer Wade can maintain this level of play. But whether it’s steaming alongside the freight train of Shaquille O’Neal’s girth, or flooding stat lines with his unparalleled skills, or icily contributing to a team of superstars, Dwyane Wade remains water and, like the jump shot that has unexpectedly saved Miami’s postseason, water is still wet.