For 15.5 seasons I’ve watched Dwyane Wade do amazing things on the basketball court. In his early years everything he did was spectacular. Watching Wade dominate the 2006 NBA Finals remains one of my most treasured basketball memories. But as his career progressed, his effortless excellence became expected. He was a Heat lifer, and he wasn’t going anywhere.
The truth is, despite Dwyane Wade being my favorite player ever, I didn’t realize what Dwyane Wade was until he took off his Heat jersey and joined Chicago.
Wade’s absence was immediately felt in Miami.