When Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade announced on Sunday night that he was returning for one final season, the news was greeted with enthusiasm from all corners of the basketball world. Of the more ecstatic groups among that contingent were four teammates who had the honor of playing with him last season.
That quartet: Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson, Bam Adebayo and Briante Weber took to social media following the announcement to express their feelings:
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Of the four players, Whiteside has the most experience playing with Wade, yet that only dates back to late 2014. Richardson was a rookie during the final season of Wade’s original run with the team, which ended when he signed with the Chicago Bulls in July 2016. Weber saw action in a single Heat game during that 2015-16 season, while Adebayo’s connection with Wade only began last February after Wade was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In short, despite their relatively brief time being connected to Wade, this group is clearly appreciative of the leadership shown by the future Hall of Famer. The veteran has built a lasting legacy by playing 15 seasons in the NBA and being an integral part of three NBA title teams, a resume that bolsters his credibility.
During Wade’s upcoming final season, the four players and their teammates will undoubtedly continue to absorb the basketball wisdom imparted by a player who can still contribute. After coming back to South Florida in February, Wade played in 21 regular season games and averaged 12.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Then, in the Heat’s short five-game playoff series, Wade’s 28 points in Game 2 helped lead the team to their only postseason victory. Wade’s approach and dedication to the game is a strong indicator that he has no plans to go quietly into the basketball sunset.
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