Heat retires Dwyane Wade’s jersey in emotional halftime ceremony. Wade: ‘I’m just thankful’
Dwyane Wade’s first game back at AmericanAirlines Arena since retiring at the end of last season is one that will be remembered for a long time.
For good reason.
During a halftime ceremony in the middle of Saturday’s game between the Heat and Cavaliers, Wade’s No. 3 jersey was retired by the organization on the second day of the Heat’s three-day “L3GACY Celebration.” Wade, 38, became the fifth Heat player to have his jersey retired, joining Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Bosh.
Wade intentionally delayed his return to AmericanAirlines Arena until his jersey-retirement day to add even more emotion to the night. And the emotion was certainly there Saturday.
Heat president Pat Riley took the microphone to begin the halftime ceremony and introduced Wade’s wife, Gabrielle Union. And Union walked over and pulled the rope to raise Wade’s jersey to the rafters with the couple’s one-year-old daughter, Kaavia, in her arms.
Wade then took the microphone and spoke to the crowd for 20 minutes. Among those he thanked during his well-constructed speech were his father Dwyane Sr., his mother Jolinda Wade, his sister Tragil Wade, Union, his children, his high school coach Jack Fitzgerald, his college coach Tom Crean, his first NBA coach Stan Van Gundy, his longtime coach Erik Spoelstra, his former teammates Udonis Haslem, LeBron James, Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Mourning, O’Neal and Bosh, late agent Henry Thomas, the Arison family and Riley.
“In the words of one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball, my friend, the late Kobe Bryant,” Wade said to the crowd to close his speech Saturday. “Kobe said the most important thing is to try to inspire others so they can be great at whatever they choose to do. I hope I’ve inspired all of you. Thank you for making me a part of your legacy. Please know you are a huge part of mine.”
Of his speech, Wade said to reporters following the halftime ceremony: “It has come together over the course of time. Sitting back and thinking about this day and this moment, I thought about what I wanted to say. Of course, I could have went on for an hour. But there were certain people and certain individuals that I wanted to give shine to. I wanted them to know how important they have been for me to be standing up there at that moment.”
Even Wade’s entrance Saturday was memorable.
Between the first and second quarters, Wade made the familiar walk through the Heat tunnel and joined Union at their courtside seats for the game. The ovation was loud, as numerous cameras followed Wade across the court to his seat.
“It was amazing. Dwyane is just sensational,” Spoelstra said of the halftime ceremony. “Look, he has all the qualities of a champion, of a winner, of a Hall of Fame player and talent. But his humanity, empathy and ability to articulate his feelings separates him from everybody else. It was hard not to get emotional at halftime. It was awesome for our players to see that.”
Wade’s impact on the local sports landscape is immeasurable. He’s considered the greatest player in Heat history based on sustained success with the organization and, arguably, the greatest athlete in South Florida sports history.
Wade, who spent all but one full season of his 16-year NBA career in Miami, is the Heat’s all-time leader in categories like points, assists, steals, minutes, field goals made, free throws made, double-digit scoring performances, games played and starts while placing second in blocks, scoring average and triple-doubles. Among his most impressive accomplishments: Three championships with the Heat (2006, 2012, 2013), a Finals MVP award in 2006 and an NBA scoring title in the 2008-09 season.
“I hope I made everyone proud of the person that I’ve become,” said Wade, who is considered one of the top shooting guards in NBA history. “But also, too, I’ve been saying this a lot lately. I feel like if I’m the face of anything in this world, I’m the face of imperfection. I’m the face of falling down, but getting back up. I wanted that message for the kids.”
As expected, most fans arrived to AmericanAirlines Arena for Saturday’s game wearing their No. 3 Heat jersey — all colors and styles. Even Heat mascot Burnie sported a Wade jersey Saturday.
“Dwyane Wade really never ever wanted to be considered anything else other than the best,” Riley said at the start of the halftime ceremony. “He wanted to be unique. He wanted to separate himself from the pack. He did that. And what he did more than anything else in this city and for this franchise and for all of his loyal fans and for all of you kids out there who one day aspire to be who he is and who he became is he has left footprints for others to follow.”
There were video messages for Wade from close friends Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul played on the AmericanAirlines Arena video screen in the second quarter Saturday. Among those who left messages for the 13-time All-Star via video during Friday’s event were Crean, Butler, James and O’Neal.
There was also a Wade tribute video from his family that was played Saturday. The video featured messages from his son Zaire, daughter Zaya, father Dwyane Sr., nephew Dahveon Morris and Union.
The three-day party to celebrate Wade’s legendary Heat career isn’t over yet, though. It began Friday with an event labeled “The Flashback” designed to relive memorable Wade moments, continued Saturday with the jersey retirement, and ends Sunday with an exclusive screening of Wade’s documentary, “D. Wade: Life Unexpected,” at 3:30 p.m. at AmericanAirlines Arena.
“Gratitude. That’s the one word for me,” Wade said when asked to describe his career. “I’m just so thankful right now. People say, ‘Are you going to cry?’ I’m in such a thankful space. I have so much peace right now. I’m just thankful, man.”
Wade admitted that Saturday’s ceremony gave him closure on his playing career.
“I feel that I wanted certain things to wrap it up,” Wade said. “Because as great as it is to look back at these moments and as great as this last year and a half has been, I need to put that behind me so I can focus on the next act in my life. Tomorrow when my documentary comes out, it’s a wrap of my life and my career at this point. Once that’s over with, Monday morning, I’m looking to be a new person. I want everyone to understand that. Basketball Dwyane Wade, that was a moment in time. But now I have to move forward with what I will be next and what my next calling is.”
This story was originally published February 22, 2020 at 9:56 PM.
