Dwyane Wade might be ready to call it an end after 15 NBA seasons.
Just as the Heat star started to find his old groove, he acknowledged that he has mulled retirement, but he hasn’t made a decision after the Heat’s season-ending loss to the 76ers on Thursday.
“That’s not my focus,” the three-time NBA champ told ESPN, after the 104-91 Game 5 loss. “Fresh off this NBA season, my 15th year, I sit back and think about that. Then I dive and throw myself into my family. They’re next on my bucket list, making sure I’m there for them. And when it comes to the basketball side of it, which is a long time away from now, then I’ll think about that.”
Wade happily reunited with Miami at the trade deadline when the Cavaliers went through a rotational makeover with acquisitions like Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson. With Wade’s role with the Cavs clearly in jeopardy, Cleveland wanted to “do right” by Wade and traded him back to Miami for a protected second-round pick.
“I love Philly, but ain’t gonna be no breaking news here in Philly. I’m sorry. I appreciate [the concern], but let me worry about that later,” Wade said.
Wade again may be a bench option if he decides to play another year. The 35-year-old transitioned from a starting rotation to a bench contributor and seemingly adjusted with time, particularly in the playoffs, where he found a niche as an explosive, exciting option even if he’s lost a step or two from vintage Wade. He averaged 16.6 points per game, twice eclipsing 25 points in the Heat’s five playoff contests despite averaging a career playoff-low 25.4 minutes per game.
His 28 points in Game 2 singlehandedly grabbed the Heat their only win in the series.
“Certain games where I’m thankful I’m coming off the bench,” he said earlier this month. “Certain games where I don’t know how good it is. Just trying to figure it out, just trying to play my role on this team.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he didn’t want to think about the possibility of Wade calling it quits.
“I loved it,” Spoelstra said about reuniting with Wade. “Each day that he’s been back, I’ve just been trying to enjoy it. I didn’t think that this would happen this year. I thought this would be one of those situations on down the line that would be a ceremonial signing to have him back. When it happened so quickly, he fit right in, and that just speaks to his humility.”
