Who's first NBA Finals performance was better, Michael Jordan's (1991 ) or Dwyane Wade

Both averaged over 30, both was finals mvp, and both end up achieving Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year(only 5 nba players can say that).

MJ: 7th year, age 28: 31.2 ppg, 11.4 asp, 6.6 rpg, 55.8 fg%, 44.0 mpg

Dw: 3rd year, age 24: 34.7 ppg, 3.8 asp, 7.80 rpg, 46.8 fg%, 43.5 mpg

1991 Finals MJ v.s. Magic, Bulls win series 4-1, lost 1 %26amp; won 1 at home %26amp; end up winning the last 3 in L.A. MJ averages a double-double(31.2 ppg %26amp; 11.4 asp), game 2, MJ does a legendary move(switching his hands in mid-air), game 3, MJ hits a clutch shot sending them in OT(results is a bulls win).

2006 Finals, DW v.s. Dirk, Heats wins 4-2, lost 2 %26amp; won 1 in Dallas %26amp; won 3 at home, DW averaged 34.7 ppg(he averaged 20+ more points then his entire team), game 3, 6 min. left Heat trailing by 13 points, DW single handley brings Heat back in a emotional win, DW ppg average is the 3rd highest ppg average in a players first finals(34.7 ppg).

I think they both were incredible, but I have to say MJ's

Who's first NBA Finals performance was better, Michael Jordan's (1991 ) or Dwyane Wade's ( 2006)?nba power rankings

Micheal Jordan DW isnt good enough to be compared wit MJ yet

Who's first NBA Finals performance was better, Michael Jordan's (1991 ) or Dwyane Wade's ( 2006)?nba ballers ,nba teams

#23.
Wow, we already have some very ignorant answers here. Wade did WAY better in the finals then MJ. As of now, Wade may not be better overall then MJ, but he will be. His stats say it all about the finals question. The only one who could say otherwise must not be able to read.
Michael because Dwyane's team was down in the series.
DW duh.. yeah michael jordans the best player ever to play.. but that was not the question... Dwyane Wades first NBA Performance was greater... sorry all you DW haters out there..
You d-wade lovers must love to watch him shoot free throws. Wade has that stupid "jump into the guy" jump shot. Has everyone forgot the ghost foul at the end of game 4 that let him win it undeservingly?
Nice question. Even though I don't really like the Heat, I say D Wade.
MJ. 32 ppg, 12 apg and all this with NO SHAQ. Jordan did all his work with no threat in the middle. Think about that for a second...the defense had NO REASON to back off and watch the middle. for those who think D Wade will be as good as MJ at any point just look at his teams record with no Shaq this year. Sub .500 and middle of the road. Never mind that in the 90's the defenses were MUCH more physical, now if you breathe to close to the likes of Wade or LeBron or Kobe it's a foul.
It's a tough call but im going to give D-Wade the nod here.Both players made some outstanding clutch plays.The Heat came back after bieng down 0-2.Although MJ was incredible in 91 people forget that Magic and Worthy were both hurt in that series and barely played.If your two best players are hurt then it's pretty hard to win a series.The 06 Mavs were stacked from top to bottom and all there stars were healthy.D-Wade just wanted it more...Also people always discount Scottie Pippen, he was one of the top five players in the league in his prime.He cuold shutdown anybody defensivly, and he could score from anywhere.Even without Jordan he led the Bulls to the eastern conference finals, and was almost MVP of the league!(second behind Hakeem).It's a tough call but D-wade gets it here ,Wade and Shaq and MJ and Pip...Two lethal combinations..
d-wades was betta because he put on a show in the last 4 games. i know mj hit a game winna put d-wades performance was way betta than mj's. he averaged 30 something points and most of them were clutch. he proved everyone wrong that the mavs were the best team in the nba and that the heat wont come back and win da nba finals.
James....you forgot to mention a couple more details.

In game one, Jordan MISSED a 15 foot shot at the end of the game that would have won it for Chicago. I can't remember if ESPN televised that or not. lol

Also, anyone who saw that series will remember how Magic kept posting up on Jordan and absolutely dominating him in game one . Then, after putting 3 quick fouls on Jordan in the first half of game two , Phil Jackson decided to move Pippen over to guard Magic and put Jordan (who was first team all-defense) on James Worthy, WHO WAS PLAYING WITH A SPRAINED ANKLE . So needless to say, Jordan didn't have to expend a whole lot of energy on the defensive end.

That proved to be the turning point, because Pippen did an excellent job on Magic. But of course, he doesn't get credit because he doesn't have his own line of shoes.

Also, in game five, Worthy and Byron Scott, the #2 and #3 leading scorers for L.A. were injured and had to sit out. The Lakers stood no chance without them.

And it was not Jordan, but John Paxson that clinched it for the Bulls, scoring 10 points at the end of game 5 to seal the victory.

Yes, Jordan had a great series, but it was definitely a team effort.

And I'm sure that Nike spends a huge amount of money advertising in Sports Illustrated, so I'm not surprised that SI returned the favor by naming him "Sportsman" of the Year. Big Deal.

Now, the 1985 IBM award.....that's a different story.