Rockets’ Austin Rivers rips ESPN over Dwyane Wade’s ranking on NBA greatest players list
Austin Rivers is tired of ESPN’s shenanigans.
The Houston Rockets guard ripped ESPN’s NBA all-time greatest list on Wednesday for its ranking of Dwyane Wade.
“If you did not play in the NBA or coach the NBA, I don’t care what your opinion is about the all-time greatest,” said Rivers, adding the list was “clearly made by guys who didn’t make their JV basketball team.”
Wade checked in at No. 26, one spot ahead of Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and just behind reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Rivers gave credit to both superstars but said there’s “no way” the Miami Heat great should be slotted in between them.
“Dwyane Wade should be somewhere around the top 10.... top 15, something like that,” Rivers said.
ESPN’s list has drawn much criticism since its release in mid-May.
The Detroit Free Press took issue with Pistons guard Isiah Thomas’ 31st overall ranking. Some believed Stephen Curry being ahead of Kevin Durant was laughable. Paul Pierce even said LeBron James didn’t deserve a top-five spot (it’s worth noting Pierce swapped LeBron for Kobe Bryant within the last week).
While it’s unclear why Wade ranked so low, several players and analysts have called him the third-best shooting guard ever behind Michael Jordan and Bryant. ESPN, however, gave that designation to Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West whom they put at No. 16 overall.
This story was originally published May 21, 2020 at 2:01 PM.
