Family had to do with Wade’s last season decision.
MIAMI — There are many things that Dwyane Wade can point to that assure him that his “One Last Dance” is coming at the right time, but part of that decision involves his role as a father.
Wade’s oldest son, Zaire, is a junior at American Heritage High School in Plantation and a rising college basketball recruit. Playing one more season with the Miami Heat allows Dwyane Wade to get back to following his son for his final year of prep hoops.
“I don’t like missing these moments,” said Wade at Miami Heat media day Monday. “These moments for me might be more important for me than they are for him.
“I don’t know how long my son will play basketball. I don’t know if it will end after this or after a 16-year NBA career. I just love watching him do what he loves to do. I love watching him compete, and I love watching the journey. A lot of it reminds me of myself.”
The question was even brought up on Monday if there was any thought of continuing to play until Zaire Wade, who recently received his first college basketball scholarship offer from Nebraska, could reach the NBA — to have the two become a Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr. tandem.
“I told him I didn’t want to put that pressure on you, ‘cause you’d have to get here real fast,” Wade said. “You’re a junior in high school, bro. If the rules were different we’d have a different conversation, but you’ve got six years, and I don’t have that.”
At his first news conference of his final season Monday, Wade reflected on the past 15 seasons, offered his best guess on the emotions the 16th and final year will bring and captured the type of focus it will take to make his “One Last Dance” memorable for more than just being a farewell tour.
“It’s going to be a combination of savoring moments, enjoying moments, but it’s also going to be a combination of trying to prepare and focus on the season and each game and your matchups,” said Wade, sporting a hoodie that read “Wade 3:16” – 3, of course, his jersey number and 16 the number of seasons.
Wade also offered insight into why he went with the 10-minute video to announce his decision.
“I wanted to speak to my fans, speak to my family and speak to my friends, and that’s all I did. I didn’t have a template. I didn’t know what I was going in to talk about. I just got in front of the camera, and what came out came out. There was emotions at times,” Wade said.
“I wanted this to just be real and raw, and let my fans hear from me and feel the emotions that I felt and the decisions and things I’ve had to go through this summer.
“I cut it short because I knew it was getting lengthy, but I could’ve went at least 30 [minutes]. I could’ve did a special about myself.”
He comically added: “The whole ‘One Last Dance’ thing came out of nowhere. I don’t even know how to dance.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra praised Wade’s handling of his situation and looks forward to sharing a final season with him as the Heat aim to improve on last year’s sixth-place finish in the Eastern Conference. This season, the East will likely have a new team in the NBA Finals after LeBron James’ departure from Cleveland, which made the Finals the past four seasons with him.
“Most pro athletes, unfortunately, they don’t get to know when the end is — or at least they’re the last ones to know and it’s certainly not on their terms,” the Heat coach said. “He has this incredible blessing to have that perspective to know when that point in time will be and to be able to have that perspective to make every day matter on the way to that journey.”