For years, Dwyane Wade has listened to critics say the Miami Heat did not deserve to win an NBA championship in 2006. The popular argument is that Wade and the Heat got all the calls and the officials screwed the Dallas Mavericks.
On the 10-year anniversary of winning the first of his three titles, Wade has heard enough.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Wade unloaded on those who claim he received preferential treatment from the referees in that series.
“There’s alot of coverage on the 2006 NBA Finals right now…One because it was the most controversial finals to date and today makes exactly 10 years to the date we won our first ever title as an organization and me as a player,” Wade wrote. “It was one of the greatest moments in my life and probably one of the worst for the Dallas Mavericks. That’s sports… we’ve all had our moments to feel both ways. Now what I’m reading about the series is unfair to me as a basketball player. Did I get some calls that I could have played through YES. We all do…but was I attacking every time I touch the ball…YES. This picture is an example of a play in game 5 that everyone said I didn’t get fouled on. Listen most athlete have never committed a foul but D Harris my guy…this is a foul haa. All in all we did find a way to beat a team that was a much better team then us that season…but they got their payback in 2011 as a franchise so in my mind it’s a wash..but iam proud to take a look back at these moments and say I had a hand in us winning our first ever championship. #2006.”
Wade shot 96 free throws in Miami’s six-game series against the Mavericks. He was awarded 25 free throws in Game 5, which was the same amount as the entire Dallas team. Thanks to the attention Bill Simmons and other influential sports media figures have called to the series, there are plenty of YouTube videos breaking down how poor the officiating was and speculating about the league fixing the series. Here’s one of them:
You can understand why Wade doesn’t appreciate people trying to take credit away from him. He led the Heat to their first title and is considered the most important player in franchise history. Don’t be surprised if we hear his wife’s opinion on the 2006 NBA Finals next.
