Can Dwyane Wade Take Page Out of Kobe Bryant's Book and Redefine Career?

Like Kobe Bryant before him, Dwyane Wade's dominance from the shooting guard position has never been fueled solely by athleticism alone. His game, like Bryant's, goes much deeper than high-flying finishes that defy defensive logic. 

Dwyane Wade averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 assists and five rebounds while shooting a career high 52.1 percent from the floor for the NBA champion Miami Heat last season.

Despite these All-Star credentials, however, it's also been universally accepted that Wade has taken a step back in terms of his overall impact. 

Knee injuries have taken their toll on Wade to be sure. We've seen fewer moments that have reminded us of the superhero-with-a-basketball known as "Flash" than we did earlier on in his career.

In order for Wade to redefine his career and remain on top well into his 30s, he will need to take a page out of Bryant's book and further embrace the abilities he has that are not restricted by age.

During the 2012-13 campaign, Wade demonstrated a skill set capable of doing specifically this. Heading into 2013-14, he will need to continue this progression in order to maintain his elite status.

One Way Kobe Bryant Changed His Approach Offensively

When Kobe Bryant was averaging 30 points a night as a 24-year-old for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002-03, he was exploding past All-Stars like Tracy McGrady to finish plays at the rim like this against the Orlando Magic on a routine basis.

Since his 30th birthday, during the summer before the 2008-09 campaign, Bryant made a conscious effort to change his offensive approach as the rigors of life in the NBA began to catch up with his body.

According to Hoopdata.com, for example, Bryant attempted only 4.2 field goals at the rim per game on average over the last five seasons while converting 2.7. Meanwhile, during that same stretch, Bryant attempted 6.4 shots from 16-23 feet out on a nightly basis, making 2.6.

How Dwyane Wade Can Redefine His Offensive Attack

Dwyane Wade mustn't necessarily evolve into the jump-shooter that Bryant has in order to remain on top.

Based on the teammates he's surrounded by in Miami, along with the offensive system he's playing in, Wade can still be an effective scorer at the rim. He just needs to change the way he manufacturers those offensive opportunities. 

In 2008-09, Wade attempted 7.5 shots per game at the rim according to Hoopdata.com. He connected on 4.9 of those attempts, good for the highly efficient rate of 66 percent, as indicated by the chart above.

What's most telling about that number, however, is that only 27.9 percent of those shots came by way of an assist. This past season, as a comparison, 56 percent of the 4.6 shots Wade converted per game at the rim were assisted field goals.

What this means is two things: Wade is no longer attacking the basket on his own as effectively as he did in 2009, but he is still a highly efficient scorer when he moves without the basketball to find open areas in the defense.

What Wade Must Highlight to Continue His Progression

The play above, from last season, is an excellent example of how Wade must continue to redefine his approach offensively moving forward.

After initially attacking the basket off the dribble, he wasn't able to explode past the two defenders who converge on the rim. Wade then defers to a teammate before the ball is swung to the top of the key and into the hands of teammate LeBron James.

As the defense adjusts to James, Wade reacts accordingly by settling in just behind the closest rim defender in front of the basket.

With less effort and athleticism than is required for a high-flying individual finish, Wade allows James to find him with the pass and converts the easy basket. If he had forced the issue on the drive, however—or not used his high basketball IQ to find the void in the defense—Wade wouldn't have converted the high percentage shot.  

A Champion's Mentality Shared by Both

Bryant and Wade's mental approach to the game ultimately separates the superstars from others who possessed similar athleticism during their early years.

Each player is a proven champion who understands how to maximize his ability to exploit scoring opportunities as they're presented.

Just as Wade has made in-game adjustments throughout his career based on what the defense gives him, he must now make similar adjustments based on what his body will allow him to do.  

As a 34-year-old who averaged 27.3 points per game for the Los Angeles Lakers by doing things differently than he did a decade ago, Bryant has laid a blueprint for Wade to follow.

Expect the 31-year-old Wade to do specifically that, too, and remain an All-Star in 2014 because of it.