‘No butterflies’
Wade at peace as farewell season begins Wednesday
MIAMI “One Last Dance” makes its first official stop Wednesday in Orlando, Dwyane Wade’s self-proclaimed Miami Heat farewell tour.
But the 36-yer-old guard said Tuesday that, at least for the moment, this 16th and final season feels like the previous 15 at the outset.
“No butterflies,” he said following practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. “It’s more so you’re excited, you’re anxious to get it going. You’ve worked hard to this point.”
But the franchise’s alltime leading scorer also said he realizes it can’t be the same, that there will be times — and places — where he will take stock.
“I definitely believe some moments are going to be like that,” he said, “I’m going to try my hardest. But at the same time, I’m there to focus on the game, too, and I have a different preparation for that.
“But there will be certain moments, certain places, certain people that you guys will see. I will try to soak it up a little bit more. I’m trying to figure this whole thing out, as well.”
Considering the lengths he went to in producing a video announcing his farewell season, Wade hinted that you can expect more when this ride comes to an end, if not sooner.
“I’m doing some of that. I’m doing all that,” he said. “It’s something I eventually plan to roll out. We’re just trying to get it all and then come out with it at that point.”
Coach Erik Spoelstra said his hope is that the focus is not placed on this being an ending, but rather that Wednesday stands as another beginning, both for his team and his franchise icon.
“I’m not going to get overwhelmed with that right now. I want to enjoy it,” Spoelstra said. “And I want him to enjoy this experience. And the highest form of sanity comes in the moment, and that’s what I want is him to be, in that moment. I want him to be in that moment.
“I want him to enjoy the locker room. I want him to enjoy a team of contention. All of it is exciting.”