Victim buried in Wade’s jersey.
Stoneman Douglas’ Joaquin Oliver buried in a Wade No. 3 jersey
MIAMI — Dwyane Wade swallowed hard, just as South Florida has done for two weeks now, because this time the Feb. 14 Parkland shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School hit particularly close to home.
With sweat still dripping onto his workout jersey after the Miami Heat completed their Monday practice at American-Airlines Arena, Wade addressed a part of his basketball fame that left him emotionally drained, a tribute that he wished never was needed.
Earlier, Wade had learned that the parents of slain 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver revealed that their son was buried Feb. 17 in a Wade No. 3 Heat jersey, his parents discussing that decision on the Univision talk show Al Punto.
Oliver became a naturalized American citizen in January 2017, months after Wade had departed the Heat, following his first 13 NBA seasons, to sign with his hometown Chicago Bulls. Then, after starting this season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wade returned to the Heat just six days before Oliver, who moved to the United States with his family at age 3, was gunned down.
“You really can’t put that in words,” Wade
in a measured tone while seated at the west end of the team’s practice court on the second level of AmericanAirlines Arena. “You hurt for the family and if you’re able to get an opportunity to speak to them, you just try to hope that the time where he was alive, that you were able to bring some form of joy to his life and something memorable, a story that you guys can talk about.
“I don’t even know the word for it. Like I retweeted on Twitter, I said, ‘You’re going to make me cry.’ It’s emotional even thinking about that, that his parents felt that burying him in my jersey is something that he wanted. I take a lot of pride in what I’ve done in this state and what I’ve meant for the youth, so I appreciate that.”
Wade was asked if it made him realize how much he meant to some people, particularly in South Florida, where he emerged from being the Heat’s first-round NBA draft choice in 2003 to helping lead the franchise to its three NBA championships.
“I definitely always said, my life has always been bigger than basketball,” he said. “Playing here and being able to do some of the things I’ve done on the court, and I think off the court just as equally has helped that for sure.
“My mom always told me that my life was bigger than basketball. And I always carry that around by the way I try to treat people. I treat them the way that I want to be treated or the way I want my kids to be treated. I also understand the position that I’m in. God has given me this unbelievable opportunity to play at this level, and I understand what comes with that from a role-model standpoint.”
Among friends at Douglas High School, Oliver was known as “Guac,” a moniker that appeared on his Instagram account. His interests: football, basketball, the Venezuelan national soccer team, urban graffiti and hip-hop.
The tragedy hit particularly close to Wade, with his two sons attending school in Broward County, at American Heritage in Plantation.
It was the second time in two days that Wade emotionally discussed the shootings.
Prior to Saturday’s victory over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, the Heat offered a video tribute to each of the 17 lost in shootsaid ings, as well as a moment of silence.
Players from both teams held a Stoneman Douglas banner at midcourt, with Wade addressing the crowd.
“Tonight we honor the 17 lives that were tragically lost in Parkland,” Wade said to the crowd. “We applaud the fearless students that are fighting for their lives. We also make sure that their voices are heard around gun safety. You are our nation’s inspiration. We salute you and we support you.”
It was the Heat’s first home game since the shootings at the Parkland high school.
The Heat will play with a “MSD” patch on the left shoulder of their uniforms for the balance of the season.