From the Nov/Dec 2006 issue of Hoop.

Even though he'd stroked pull-up threes in the NCAA Tournament, the standard line on Wade before the 2003 NBA Draft was that his jump shot was a weak element of his game. He disproved that theory in his rookie season, mixing his fearless drives with a decent mid-range touch. In his second season, his confidence in the jump shot increased, it became a significant part of his arsenal. In his third season, Wade became so proficient that he now has to be considered one of the best mid-range shooters in the game.

"In Game 6 (of the Finals), I hit 10 shots—all were jumpers," Wade says. "So, to all those people who said I couldn't shoot...(laughs)."

Indeed, in Games 3-6, moves that once were designed to set up drives were now setting up 17-footers. The formula was simple: if the Maverick defenders laid off, he'd fire away freely from 17-19 feet. If they crowded, he'd penetrate to score or dish. It was a formula that we saw repeated this summer throughout the FIBA World Championship of Basketball in Japan. In nine games for the USAB Men's Senior National Team, Wade averaged 19.3 ppg, mixing his attacking drives with pull-up jumpers. Against Argentina in the bronze medal game, Wade swished jumpers from all over the court, scoring 32—18 in the fourth quarter—in a 96-81 win.²

The increased confidence and exactness in his jumper didn't just come around during the playoffs, but was the byproduct of three-plus years of diligent gym work.

"I work with coaches who push me on my shot, working on my balance," Wade says. "I try to shoot every shot the same whether I'm under pressure or wide open. You try to shoot the same shots that you'll shoot in the game—that way it feels the same."

And Wade still sees room for improvement.

"I want to extend my range," he says. "I want to fine-tune everything "I don't have the best shot in the League, but it's comin'...(smiles)."

It's tantalizing to imagine Wade's game with an even better outside shot. After making only 17.1 percent of his three-point attempts in the regular season, Wade hit 37.8 percent in the playoffs—perhaps a preview of things to come?

Even if Wade can improve his own game, though, he won't be able to return to the Finals by himself. Last season, the Heat were up and down throughout the first 82 games, but hit upon the right formula in the playoffs. Can they rely on that plan again? As good as Wade is, can he shoulder more load than he already has? Other teams will study Miami's success, other players will study Wade's strengths—and find ways to counter.

As many champions have said before, defending a title is harder than winning that first one. When asked if they could repeat, Wade has expressed confidence. He's also acknowledged that beside himself, Haslem and James Posey, the other Heat regulars aren't getting any younger. Thirtysomethings Shaq, Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning each played inspired basketball in the playoffs. Will they be able to do it again?

Looking around the League, there are young, up-and-coming teams all over the map—Dallas, Washington, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Phoenix—teams with athletes they can throw in Wade's direction. Wade was the first member of the vaunted '03 Draft class to lead his team to a ring.³ You can be sure that LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony⁴ want to feel that championship shine...

"I'm the best looking one of the crew," Wade said of the 2003 Draft Class power trio of himself, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, while the three were in Sapporo for the opening rounds of the FIBA World Championship.

"They're like my bodyguards."

We don't want anyone to get it twisted," Wade continued. "When we play against each other, we're competitors. We go at it. [LeBron and I] proved that in Cleveland last year—they won the game but we went through a battle."⁵

Wade understands that rest of the League, including his buddies Melo and Bron, will be coming for what he has. His next challenge will be to maintain the high standard he's set, to live up to a higher set of expectactions. He'll deal with challenges and expectations in the same manner he has to this point in his career—with his unique mix of talent, resolve, humility and hunger.

"You gotta have a strong will," Wade says. "You need to have mad focus. That's something I have as an individual—the will to not let up."

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2. Of course, the USAB team wanted to play for the gold medal, but was eliminated courtesy of a 101-95 loss to Greece. The experienced Greek team shot an incredible 63 percent from the field, including an astronomical 31-44 over the final three periods—some observers felt that no team could have defeated Greece that day.

3. Second-overall pick Darko Milicic was a member of the '04 Pistons championship team, although he received scant playing time. Now a member of the Orlando Magic, Milicic has begun to show signs of fulfilling his enormous potential—he averaged 7.6 ppg and 2.07 bpg in 30 games with the Magic last season, and scored 16.2 ppg at this summer's World Championship.

4. Not to mention '03 draftees Kirk Hinrich (Bulls) and Chris Bosh (Raptors), who each lead teams looking to knock the Heat off their perch…

5. Wade is referring to an epic game on 4/1/06: Wade scored 44, but LeBron scored 47 and the Cavs won 106-99.