In his final season as an NBA player, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade has basked in enthusiastic responses from crowds on the road. However, in what was the Heat’s only road trip to face the Memphis Grizzlies this season, back soreness forced Wade to miss Friday’s matchup.
Following the game, Wade took to social media to apologize to any disappointed fans.
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During pregame on Friday, Wade offered a more in-depth explanation for his absence in the game:
“Old. My back has been bothering me. I’ve been playing through it, but flight yesterday, woke up this morning very tight.
“It’s not going to do no better playing [Friday] feeling this way. I’m just going to hurt the team out there.”
As a Western Conference team, the Grizzlies only face the Heat twice per season with each team having a home contest. The Heat won Friday night’s clash, 100-97, and will host the Grizzlies on Jan. 12 at American Airlines Arena.
Throughout Wade’s stellar career, Memphis has often been a place in which he’s been held out of the lineup in order to rest. During his final 11 seasons, he has only played in three of the road contests against the Grizzlies, the last time coming in 2015.
The 36-year-old Wade has played 24 games against the Grizzlies in his career, averaging 20.0 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. Those numbers are all around his career averages against all teams and help reinforce why such consistency over such an extended period has already punched his ticket for the basketball Hall of Fame.
Wade was with the team in Memphis and ended up signing autographs for fans in an effort to limit some of their disappointment.
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