No matter how successful the Utah Jazz become moving forward, Dwyane Wade, the franchise’s part-owner, will forever be synonymous with the Miami Heat. And how could it be otherwise? With three NBA championships and a Finals MVP under his belt for the franchise, he has more than earned the statue that stands proudly outside the Kaseya Center.
However, for the uninitiated, Wade actually played for two other teams outside of the Heat: the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers. And while his stints at either stop weren’t as fruitful as his run with the Heat, he asserted that he always thinks fondly of them.
A powerful moment
The 2016 offseason was difficult for Wade, as contract negotiations between him and Heat president Pat Riley didn’t go swimmingly. Although he never wanted to leave the franchise that helped him become an NBA superstar and a sports icon, he sensed that Riley wasn’t going to give him the deal he believed he deserved.
“I never wanted to leave Miami. That was never my goal. But once we broke down in negotiations, I decided to do something for myself,” the legendary guard shared.
As the slick Heat executive stood pat on his offer, Wade did what he had always wanted: go back home to Chicago.
“To go back home and play, that will always be one of my favorite moments,” he said.
Born in Chicago, Wade had always been a Bulls fan. In fact, it was Michael Jordan’s dominance that inspired him to pick up a basketball and become the player he is today.
“I grew up watching this team. I grew up wanting to be an NBA player because of this team. And now I’m wearing this jersey and I’m here,” he stated.
Wade vividly remembered the surge of electricity that coursed through him the moment he was introduced at the United Center for the first time as a member of the Bulls.
“When I got called out and it said, ‘Six-four guard, from Chicago, Illinois, Dwyane Wade,'” he remembered. “I will never forget that. That moment was so powerful for me.”
Wade averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Bulls during the 2016-17 season and worked well with Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo to bring the team to the playoffs. However, they lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round, 4-2.
“I built a great relationship with my brother Jimmy [Butler]. I got a chance to see my mom and [she] got a chance to see me play up close and personal every home game,” Wade remarked. “I got a chance to be there the last year of my agent’s life in Chicago. If I was in Miami, I would have never got the opportunity to do that.”
Reunited with LeBron
After things went south in Chicago, Wade secured a buyout and immediately signed with Cleveland, reuniting him with the man he won a couple of rings with in Miami — LeBron James. Unfortunately, he just didn’t fit with the team the Cavs had, as he struggled and averaged a mere 11.2 points.
After playing in just 46 games, Wade was traded back to Miami during the 2018 trade deadline.
“We thought we had a good chance. We know Golden State was unbelievable and it was going to be hard to beat them regardless. We thought we put together a good team to be able to do that, [but] management thought different,” he explained. “And so they broke us up before we had an opportunity to go compete for a championship together.”
Wade has no regrets playing for the Bulls and the Cavaliers. In fact, he often shares his experiences from those stints with Jazz players. But such is life as a professional basketball player; regardless of what achievements one has attained in his career, change is inevitable and it’s up to individuals to adapt and make the most of it.