Heat legend Dwyane Wade nominated for Hall of Fame. What it means for Wade
As expected, Miami Heat icon Dwyane Wade has been named as a first-time nominee for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023.
The list of this year’s nominees was released Wednesday. This is the first year Wade is eligible to be included because a player must be fully retired for four full seasons before being considered for the Basketball Hall of Fame, and Wade retired at the end of the 2018-19 season.
Wade, 40, is expected to be voted in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer as a member of the 2023 class after his legendary Heat career that included 13 NBA All-Star Game selections.
The finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2023 class will be revealed on Feb. 17 at NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City. The full class of Hall of Famers for 2023 will be announced on April 1 during the NCAA Final Four in Houston.
The 2023 class will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame on Aug. 12 in Springfield, Mass.
Already enshrined in the Hall of Fame for careers that included time with the Heat are Tim Hardaway, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, and Pat Riley. Former Heat assistant coach Bob McAdoo is also in the Hall of Fame.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is already looking forward to Wade’s Hall of Fame moment.
“I can’t wait for it because we all know how Dwyane is,” Spoelstra said. “He’s going to throw a party that’s going to be one for the ages. And I’ve only been to the Hall of Fame twice, for Pat’s party, which was unbelievable. That was a lot of fun because all of the Laker crew was there, and I’m still a fan and a historian of the game. So that one was really fun. CB’s was incredible.”
It will be a busy summer for Spoelstra, who will serve as a Team USA assistant coach for the Aug. 25-Sept. 10 World Cup in the Philippines. Spoelstra will have to take a break from preparing for that tournament to be at the induction ceremony.
“I know I do have some summer engagements,” Spoelstra said. “But I ain’t missing it. I ain’t missing it. I’ll fly back from wherever I have to fly back from for that weekend.”
Wade’s No. 3 jersey was retired by the Heat in February 2020.
Wade, who was drafted by Miami in 2003, is the Heat’s all-time leader in categories like points, games played, minutes played, assists and steals and is considered one of the top shooting guards in NBA history. 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.
This story was originally published December 21, 2022 at 5:46 PM.
