1st year in the NBA

Following on the heels of names like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Darko Milicic, Wade's arrival in Miami was as quiet and unassuming as his off-court demeanor.

But it didn't take long for the Chicago native's name and game to blossom under the South Florida sun. After a sluggish start for the first-time point guard and the rest of his HEAT teammates, Wade began to leave his sizeable fingerprints all over what would evolve into a remarkable late-season resurgence.

Playing through an array of injuries and a demanding job description that included stints at both the point and his more familiar shooting guard spot, Wade finished in full-on attack mode. His 16.2-point scoring average was third on the HEAT, and his 4.5-assist average tied him with backup point guard Rafer Alston for the team lead. And as Wade stocked the highlight reels with his lightning-quick crossover, smooth shot and explosive dunking ability, the HEAT caught fire, finishing 42-40 by virtue of a 17-4 season-ending run.

Wade finished a distant third behind Cleveland's James and Denver's Anthony in Rookie of the Year balloting, but what he would go on to accomplish during the HEAT's foray deep into the Eastern Conference semifinals would leave many wondering if the votes hadn't been tabulated too early.

In 13 playoff games, Wade elevated his attack, averaging 18.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 45.5% from the field. By the time the HEAT had bowed out to the top-seeded Indiana Pacers in six semifinal games, Wade had become just the fourth rookie since the shot clock inception in 1954-55 to lead his team in postseason scoring and assists - putting him on a short list that includes New York Knicks star Stephon Marbury (1997) and childhood idol Michael Jordan (1985).

Wade scored at least 20 points in seven of those games - tying a HEAT record held by Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway - and hit the winning shot in a pair of tight contests during the HEAT's grueling 4-3 first-round series win over the New Orleans Hornets. The first of those shots came in the closing seconds of his first-ever playoff game, and set the stage for his starring role throughout the postseason.

Wade's virtuoso performance in that series drew rave reviews from both teams and elicited comparisons to Hall of Fame names like Jordan and Magic Johnson. But more importantly, it allowed him to enter the HEAT's series against the powerful Pacers with a renewed sense of resolve.

It just gave me tremendous confidence knowing I could stay in front of a tremendous guard like Baron Davis," said Wade after a thrilling 85-77 Game 7 win. "I'm different. I'm growing."

And grow he did...... More - Dwayne Wade's 1st Year in NBA