The Miami Heat guard named Sports Illustrated's 2006 Sportsman of the Year was Dwyane Wade.
Wade received the honor after leading the Miami Heat to their first NBA championship in the 2005–06 season. In the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, he delivered one of the most celebrated performances of his career and was named Finals Most Valuable Player. His combination of scoring, playmaking, defense, and late-game performances made him the central figure in Miami's title run.
The award also recognized Wade's leadership and community work through the Wade's World Foundation, which supported youth education, health, and fitness initiatives. He was the fifth NBA player to receive Sports Illustrated's honor, following Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and the 2003 co-winners Tim Duncan and David Robinson. A common mix-up is confusing this award with the ESPY Awards, where Wade also received recognition in 2006; Sports Illustrated's award specifically went to him as its Sportsman of the Year.