Dwyane Wade announced on Sunday that he will be returning to the Miami Heat this season, which will be his last and final season.
Wade, 36, announced his official decision with an Instagram post, as well as a near 10-minute YouTube video titled “One Last Dance”. The video explains why he has decided to return for a final season with the Heat.
The 15-year veteran was selected fifth in the NBA draft by the Heat in 2003. During his time in Miami he was a 12-time NBA All-Star and won three championships (2006, 2012, 2013). In 2006, he won the Finals MVP.
After leaving Miami in 2015, Wade made stops in Chicago and Cleveland, before being traded back to Miami mid-season in 2018. In the 21 games with the Heat last season, he averaged 12 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
Wade has had an amazing NBA career and will go down as arguably the greatest player to put on a Heat uniform, get a much deserved farewell tour, and be a first ballot Hall of Famer. In addition, he promised to give this season everything he has.
“I feel it’s right to ask you guys to join me for one last dance, for one last season,” Wade said. “This is it. I’ve given this game everything that I have, and I’m happy about that, and I’m going to give it for one last season everything else that I have left. And when I walk away I’m still going to love it….Let’s enjoy it.”
Wade is a player that always brought the “heat” every time he stepped onto the floor, and is a winner in every sense of the word. You have to be pleased that his last season will be in Miami instead of somewhere else.
He was one of those players that you always wanted to make sure you watched if he was playing. He left you in awe of what he was able to do from his shot making ability, to athleticism, and will to win.
Wade is one of those players that belonged in a Heat uniform. In addition, in the years he spent elsewhere, it didn’t feel right. As a fan, you wished that Pat Riley gave him the contract he asked for at that time. However, he didn’t, which ultimately resulted in Wade going to Chicago.
Although, you understood partly why Riley didn’t want to make the move to give Wade such a big contract. He wanted to start the rebuilding process quicker and didn’t feel it was in the best interest of the team to give Wade such a big contract to keep him happy. However, when you have a player at the caliber of Dwayne Wade, who spent his whole career in Miami at that point, you try your best to keep him.
Yet, it was amazing to see Wade back in Miami last season, and was equally as amazing to hear Riley wanted Wade back in Miami for his final year. Wade is going to try and make this final season as memorable as possible, and fans will enjoy witnessing “Flash” one more time.
