Opinion: Dwayne Wade: The return of a champion
Travis Willmann, Sports Editor
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The views and opinions expressed on in this article are solely those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of The Vision NGU or North Greenville University.
Dwayne Wade has played 14 seasons in the NBA and has announced that he will be coming back for his 15th season, however, it will be his last. Wade posted on Twitter and said, “I never wanted a “farewell tour” but being in the position to have one is an unbelievable honor that I couldn’t rob my fans of.” Wade will absolutely go down in history as one of the more historic figures in NBA history; but for his final season, he is only getting paid 2.4 million which is the league minimum for a veteran player. The question is why the Miami Heat is only paying him the league minimum and why is Wade taking the money?
The answer to this question lies within what kind of player Wade has been and continues to be. Wade will end his career as the Heat’s leader in points, assists, steals, and games played, according to espn.com. He will also end his career as one of the most loved players in the Heat’s recent history. Wade has given everything to Heat’s organization as a basketball player and as a person and that is why the “farewell” tour means so much to him. The fact is that Wade is 36 years old and he is not getting any younger and Wade understands that.
Wade is sacrificing to give his team and his fans the Farewell tour that they deserve. Shaquille O’Neal, who won a championship with Wade said, “I’m happy for him that he can have this farewell tour, especially here in Wade County.” The town of Miami has been so important in Wade’s life and so has the organization of the Heat. Wade is not in it for money or the fame, but to give his town, his fans, what they deserve and that is to see Wade play one last time. It has never been about him, but the fans and the city of Miami.
Wade has been instrumental in the success that the Heat experience in 2006, 2012 and 2013 when they won championships, but he has been bigger than basketball. He has been influential in the community and in the organization. However, as Shaq said, “there’s a lot of barbershop talk of him being the second- or the third-best two-guard in the game.” Wade will go down as one of the best guards ever to play the game, but he will be remembered for so much more because of his attitude towards the game and towards the city of Miami.
