James Harden and Dwyane Wade are among the very best guards of their respective eras and in NBA history. Once Harden hangs it up, there will likely be a heated debate about who had a better legacy. Patrick Beverley recently made the argument for why his former Houston Rockets teammate is the superior choice.
Patrick Beverley Explains Why He Has James Harden Over Dwyane Wade All-Time
On the first episode of his new podcast, “Pat Bev Show,” the 12-year NBA veteran made the case for why he believes Harden was better than Wade.
“You’re talking about a player that can score it,” Beverley said. “A player that can get to the free-throw line, a player that can pass it out of the pick-and-roll. A lot of people were going under on D-Wade pick-and-rolls. I ain’t gon’ front, you feel me? A lot of people were letting D-Wade have that.”
Beverley added that Wade had been more clutch than Harden and acknowledged that Wade won a championship, but he argued that such an accomplishment is a team award rather than an individual one. He even concluded that the comparison between Wade and Harden is not particularly close.
Pat Bev says James Harden is a better player than Dwyane Wade, and it’s not really close 😳
“You’re talking about a player that can score it—a player that can get to the free-throw line, a player that can pass it out of the pick-and-roll. A lot of people were going under on… pic.twitter.com/RC6e9Y889C
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 18, 2026
Something that many don’t consider in a debate like this is that both sides of the floor must be evaluated. At the top of his game, Wade was an elite defender, making three All-Defense teams in his NBA career (2005, 2009, 2010).
Conversely, Harden’s individual defense was once so porous that it became an internet meme. While Harden recognized the problem and eventually improved, he never reached Wade’s level.
Their playing styles differed significantly. Wade was the better overall athlete, but Harden is craftier. Both were excellent at drawing free throws, but Harden edges Wade as a lethal 3-point scorer, whereas Wade was streaky at best.
The most points Wade averaged over an entire season was 30.2, while Harden’s career high in that regard was 36.1. There was legitimately a point in time when it felt like Harden simply could not be stopped.
Two crucial factors also work against Wade when comparing him to Harden. First, Wade never won the NBA Most Valuable Player award. The only time he came close was in 2009, when he finished third. Harden not only won the award in 2018 but also finished in the top three from 2015 to 2020, with 2016 being the only exception.
Second, Wade fell out of his prime much earlier than Harden. At age 36, Harden is averaging 24 points, eight assists, and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 43.3% from the field and 36.6% from three.
At the same age, Wade averaged 11.4 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 43.8% from the field and 28.8% from 3. While those were solid numbers for his age, Harden has him beat by a wide margin.
At age 36, Wade averaged 11.4 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 43.8% from the field and 28.8% from three. Solid numbers given the age, but Harden has him beat by a mile.
Wade may have been the better two-way player at his peak, but in terms of potency and longevity, Harden maintains a significant edge.
