After 12 games, Wade OK with All-Star legacy
MILWAUKEE — If the fans have their say, Dwyane Wade will be an NBA All-Star in his 16th and final season.
But Wade, who this season is averaging 13.8 points off the Heat bench, has made it clear he’ll be quite all right if he doesn’t end his career adding a 13th All-Star appearance to the 12 he has already made.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Wade said. “I’ve been around great players for a while in my career. One last hurrah is not going to make or break what I feel about my career.”
In the league’s second release of All-Star fan votes, Wade is second among Eastern Conference guards ahead of the Charlotte Hornets’ Kemba Walker, who would make an all-star start at home should he surpass Wade. Fan voting is 50 percent of the formula for determining All-Star starters as player and coach votes contribute 25 percent each. Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving leads East guards in fan votes.
Walker is averaging a career-best 25.2 points per game this season, and after making each of the previous two All-Star Games, could make his first start in the February exhibition.
“When it comes to the All-Star [Game], you want the guys that deserve to be an All-Star and have the best first half of the season to be able to go and live out a dream,” Wade said. “I’ve had that opportunity multiple times, so you want those guys to be able to do that.”
Wade added he plans on attending the weekend’s festivities regardless.
“I’ll be down there anyway,” he said. “I’ll be around some of the guys anyway. It’s really not a big deal to me. I think it’s cool from a fan perspective who loves this game, watch this game, support this game that they have some of their favorite players and some of their favorite guys. No matter what, you always want to see them on that stage.”
The Heat have made a mild public push at home games urging fans to vote Wade in with a #OneLastChance hashtag, playing off this being Wade’s “One Last Dance,” but coach Erik Spoelstra said he wouldn’t partake in encouraging other coaches to help make it happen with their vote.
“I’m not the kind of guy,” Spoelstra said. “It would come off kind of shocking and disingenuous for me to call. That’s never been my deal. Right or wrong — that’s probably wrong — I don’t get on the phone and I never have.
“Nobody cares what I have to say. His career speaks louder than any email or call I can make.”
The All-Star Game is Feb. 17.
Chasing MJ: In his pursuit for Michael Jordan’s record for blocked shots as a guard, Wade is 28 blocks behind with 40 regularseason games remaining in his final season. That’s a 0.7 average needed down the final stretch to tie, which lies between his career average (0.9) and season average (0.5).
“I got a challenge in front of me,” Wade said. “I’ve given myself one season to do it, so I’ll see if I can figure it out, but it would definitely be great company to be in.”
Wade, without a block in 22 minutes in the 124-86 loss to the Bucks, made no progress in that chase on Tuesday night. Wade did get one on Saturday in the win against the Memphis Grizzlies with a clutch defensive play with four seconds remaining to force a jumpball he eventually won to help run out the clock.
With playoff games included, Wade is closer to Jordan, trailing just 1,051-1,040. Wade already has the most blocks for a player 6 foot 4 or shorter.
Budenholzer’s words: Wade’s pursuit of a defensive record goes in line with what Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer talked about when asked about Wade’s legacy ahead of the Heat’s game in Milwaukee. Beyond the championship pedigree and scoring ability, Budenholzer felt Wade’s defensive abilities don’t receive enough recognition.
“When he dials it up defensively, it’s amazing some of the things he can do on the defensive end of the court, whether it be blocking shots, getting in passing lanes, getting steals,” Budenholzer said. “His athleticism, his anticipation — I don’t think anyone talks about the defensive side of the ball enough.
“I would include Dwyane Wade as one of those guys that what he does defensively probably is not discussed — maybe the blocked shots, because I know he’s one of the top ever — but some of the steals. I’ve been on the wrong side of those steals too many times.”