With LeBron James gone, is this the year of Dwyane Wade?
When two people come together for a greater good, it seems like one person has to take a backseat. Them taking a backseat has nothing to do with their talent or energy level, but it has everything to do with their role.
Nevertheless, is a servant greater than his master? In the same way, is a student greater than his teacher?
This relates to the self-proclaimed “Heat Lifer”, the Miami Heat’s own future hall of fame shooting guard Dwyane Wade. Since Wade played the second fiddle in the offense on the Heat team the last few seasons, he took on the role of teacher. He helped his former teammate LeBron James learn what it took to become a champion.
The task was not easy, and now that his assignment is over, many people (including myself) expect Wade to begin right back where he left off at when he was the primary scoring option for the Heat.
The NBA is one of the best sports to watch because it is so individualized but yet it plays within a team concept. As one of the best leaders, and greatest teammates in the last decade Wade has done what all players in the NBA want to do, win.
As a three-time NBA champion, Wade has accomplished a lot in his career that many can’t even fathom. It comes as a punch in the gut when I hear people criticize and throw stones claiming that Wade can never be what he was.
What a generic and vanilla statement that is though. How many people today can do the same things that they did in their 20’s? It just won’t happen.
They say that the end of anything is better than it’s beginning and patience is always better than pride.
Now entering into the ending years of his career, we should all expect a glorious run. Wade is not only playing for championships but also attempting to have joy once again playing basketball.
Though the Heat were notorious for their photo bombs, how many times have we even seen him attempt to do the cabbage patch anymore?
In an interview with Bleacher Report’s Ethan J. Skolnick, Wade said this:
"“I think now I’m at the point where I want to enjoy the game. Because once I’ve won three championships and been so successful, you’ve got to have something to play for. And I want to be able to play for my teammates and just the joy of the game.”"
Coming into the season Wade has already lost weight, got back into playing shape, and has looked the quickest he has in a long time. As the leader and captain of the Miami Heat, we are in for a special season once again with Wade.
It will now be easier to root for someone like Wade in the tail end of his career for everything that he has done for the city of Miami.
Basketball wise, there is no bigger icon in the city than Wade. His impact on South Florida’s basketball scene is unheralded. Since Wade arrived in Miami in 2003 there have been three McDonald’s All-American’s in Brandon Knight, Fab Melo and Kenny Boynton and now that number will double in the immediate future in a city not known for basketball. In a city that is a hot-bed for football talent, a lot of youth find themselves idolizing Wade’s game especially with the state of the Miami Hurricanes and Miami Dolphins over the last decade.
Who could even forget the spectacular exhibition basketball showcase organized because of the 2011 NBA lockout?
Before Wade when was the last time LeBron James, Amar’e Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, John Wall, Rajon Rondo, Jamal Crawford Eric Bledsoe played on the same court in Miami?
*On another note: FIU why are you not making a stronger effort to make this happen every year, seriously? As much as I love you, c’mon this has got to stay as a trend!”
Now fans in Miami will get to see Wade for another five years (if that long) play for a city that he has embraced with open arms and a city that has wrapped their arms even wider to celebrate his career. Instead of giving him the Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera treatment, we need to make sure he knows he’s appreciated the last few years of his career, and not just the last season for everything he has done for the city.
Thanks to the Way of Wade, basketball in South Florida has exploded in ways that will never stay the same, and next season for the Heat it is back to business.
I’m taking my time to thank him in advance, “Thank You.”