Miami Heat superstar and future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade will play one more season in South Beach and then retire, according to Adam Spolane of Sports Radio 610 in Houston.
The 36-year-old Wade has been playing on bad knees over the last several seasons and has seen his production and durability go down significantly since 2014. He'll be 37 in January and is coming off the worst statistical season of his career, so Wade's plan to retire after next season shouldn't surprise anybody.
Wade signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason but averaged a mere 11.1 points in in 46 games. He was traded back to Miami at the deadline for a 2024 second-round pick, and helped them get into the postseason.
D-Wade averaged 12 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 21 games for Miami, but they were ousted by the Philadelphia Sixers in the opening round of the playoffs. The Heat should make the postseason again in 2018-19, but they're certainly not a championship contender at this point. Wade will get to mentor the younger players and help them start up the new era in South Beach, however.
A spot in the Hall of Fame awaits Wade when he retires. One of the most prolific shooting guards in the history of basketball, Wade is a 12-time All-Star, three-time NBA Champion and two-time member of the All-NBA First Team. He's averaged 22.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in his career.
Wade was drafted fifth overall by the Heat in 2003, and he instantly put them back on the basketball map. Teaming up with Shaquille O'Neal, Wade led the Heat to their first NBA Championship in 2006.
After forming a new super team with LeBron James and Chris Bosh in 2010, Wade and the Heat reached four straight NBA Finals, winning it all in 2012 and 2013. James left after the Heat lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals, but Wade was able to get them back into the playoffs two years later and again in 2018.
It's been a wonderful ride for Wade and the Heat, but he probably is picking the right time to retire. Now that we know his future plans, Wade will get plenty of nice send-off ceremonies and will be able to walk out in full confidence that he'll be enshrined in the Hall of Fame some day.