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SPORTS Tuesday 18 sepTember 2018
One Last Dance: Wade returning to Heat for a final season

By TIM REYNOLDS many respects — this com-
AP Basketball Writer ing season as it had last
MIAMI (AP) — Dwyane season, when it went 44-
Wade looked into the 38 and claimed the No. 6
camera, stood alone in the seed in the Eastern Confer-
middle of a darkened room ence playoffs.
and talked for 10 minutes. This time, though, the Heat
He struggled with his words will have Wade from the
at times, unable to control season's outset.
his emotions. He wept. He spent 2016-17 in his
And finally, he made what hometown of Chicago,
he called the hardest deci- then began last season with
sion of his life. Cleveland. Wade returned
One more year. to the Heat in a trade last
Retirement needs to wait February, appearing in 26
a little bit longer for Wade, games including playoffs,
who announced Sunday enamoring Miami again
night in a video taped ear- even while coming off the
lier in the day that he's re- bench and averaging 12.9
turning for a 16th and final points. His impact on the
NBA season. He basically court was clear, and so was
spent the entirety of the his impact off the court —
last four months weighing Wade was very involved in
his options, and retirement the response to the Feb. 14
— even just a few days ago massacre at Marjory Stone-
— was an extremely real man Douglas High School
possibility in his mind. that left 17 dead, including
"I've always did things my a student named Joaquin
way," said Wade, who is Oliver who was a Heat fan.
expected to sign a $2.4 Oliver's parents buried their
million, one-year deal later son in a Wade jersey.
this week. "Whether they've That touched Wade deep-
good or whether they've ly, and he spent the latter
been bad, I got here be- portion of last season deal-
cause I've done things the ing with both the anguish
way that I feel is right for me of that and the death of
and right for my family. And his longtime agent Hen-
what I feel is right ... I feel it's ry Thomas. Wade would
right to ask you guys to join eventually say that he felt
me for one last dance, for lost at times last season
one last season. without Thomas, that he
"This is it. I've given this game wasn't always getting the
everything that I have, and same joy out of playing the
I'm happy about that, and game as he once did.
I'm going to give it for one "When I lost Hank, I lost a
last season, everything else part of me," Wade said,
I have left." wiping away tears.
Wade is Miami's career The plan going into this sea-
leader in points, assists, son will be to keep Wade
steals and games played. in that reserve role like last
His status was an enormous season. While he likely won't
question mark this summer, In this Saturday, April 21, 2018 file photo, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) shoots and scores be starting, it's fairly certain
especially now with the late in the fourth quarter as Philadelphia 76ers forward Dario Saric (9) and Joel Embiid (21) defend that he'll be finishing them
team a week away from in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Miami. — Spoelstra utilized Wade
going to training camp. Mi- Associated Press as a closer last season, and
ami has signed 19 players Wade loves that role.
for camp, one shy of the sonal business and some I physically get out of bed said. "But to me, they're Wade could have gotten
maximum preseason al- family business, and partly every day to do this? Can real. I feel like my family a deal elsewhere this sum-
lotment, and it was never because it took him and I step with every step hurt- has put me first for so many mer, though moving to
a question why they kept the Heat some time to fig- ing in the morning? Can I years, for good reasons. But another team again was
that last spot open. ure out what made sense deal with the travel? Can I there comes a point in time never a consideration for
It's filled now, by the most for both sides. A person fa- be away from my family? Is when we've all got to think him this time around. It was
accomplished Heat player miliar with Wade's thinking it selfish for me to want to about someone else, espe- Miami or nowhere.
ever. Yet it was no guaran- told The Associated Press continue to be away from cially the ones around you Miami won.
tee that Wade, a 22.5-point that the guard was strongly my family?" Wade said, that have supported you, "Let's enjoy it," Wade
scorer for his career, would considering retirement until reeling off a list of questions supported your dreams, said. "Let's have some joy
return. His decision took late last week, when Heat that he pondered when supported your journey like through this last season.
longer than some expect- coach Erik Spoelstra and making the decision. my family have." Let's push this young team
ed, partly because he was others made a late push to He apparently found his Wade's return basically over the hump and let's
deciding what he wanted help him decide. answers. means that Miami will have write our own story to the
to do, partly because he Whatever they said worked. "These things to you guys the same team — a young, end of this career, togeth-
was dealing with some per- "Can I physically do it? Can may seem small," Wade rising team it believes in er. Together."q