Dwyane Wade, 34, Does Not Need to Chase Rings
Start writing a post
Sports

Dwyane Wade, 34, Does Not Need to Chase Rings

The future Hall of Famer is focused on basketball, not championships.

11
Dwyane Wade, 34, Does Not Need to Chase Rings
Keith Allison|Flickr

Dwyane Wade is satisfied with the number of NBA championships he has won, according to an interview he did for SLAM Magazine.

The Chicago Bulls guard made that clear when addressing the fact that he opted against reuniting with friend and former teammate LeBron James in Cleveland during the 2016 NBA offseason. He does not feel pressed to try to capture another NBA title at this stage in his professional career.

Wade, a Chicago native, signed with his hometown team in July; he accepted a two-year, $47 million offer from the Bulls. In doing so, he also parted ways with a franchise he was fundamental in shaping for more than a decade. Wade changing teams was one of the biggest news stories of the NBA offseason.

The Miami Heat selected Wade with the fifth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. Wade would go on to play for Miami for 13 seasons, winning three NBA titles during that span of time. Two of those titles were won while playing alongside James; together they won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.

Wade revealed during the interview that he did consider signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers; they were no doubt an option that crossed his mind. After giving it some thought, however, he ultimately chose to sign elsewhere. Wade said the following about his decision:

“I thought about Cleveland, but I didn’t fit there. You don’t just do something because, Oh, I could win the ring there. I have three rings. I don’t need to chase the ring.”

Wade’s comments reveal a lot about the 34-year-old NBA veteran. He is a three-time NBA champion with nothing more to prove at this point in his career; he just wants to continue to play the game of basketball in a situation that he feels is right for him.

The above quote is one of the high points of Wade’s interview, which is a feature story by SLAM Magazine covering his decision to join Chicago during the offseason. Bleacher Report even took to Instagram to post a photo highlighting that portion of the interview. To see Bleacher Report’s post, click here.

As a 30-something NBA veteran, Wade still played at an impressive level during the 2015-16 NBA season. He averaged 19 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 74 regular-season games. He secured his 12th All-Star selection while leading the Heat to 48 regular-season wins and a berth in the 2016 playoffs.

During the playoffs, the No. 3-seeded Heat overcame a 3-2 series deficit in the first round to defeat the Charlotte Hornets in seven games. The Heat then took the Toronto Raptors to seven games after trailing in that series as well; Miami came up just short of making it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Wade was Miami’s top performer the whole time, upping his statistical averages in the playoffs to 21.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

The Cavaliers, on the other hand, were the best team in the Eastern Conference during the 2015-16 campaign. They won 57 regular-season games and secured the top seed in the East for the playoffs. They defeated the Raptors in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the NBA Finals for the second season in a row. The Cavs then overcame a 3-1 deficit in the Finals to defeat the heavily favored Golden State Warriors in seven games; it was their first NBA championship in franchise history. They were led by LeBron James the whole way.

James finished the 2015-16 season as a three-time NBA champ and three-time Finals MVP. He finished third in NBA MVP voting. He was also a First Team All-NBA selection for the 10th time in his career, which ties an all-time record for that accomplishment. The 31-year-old is still in peak form.

As the defending NBA champs, the Cavs are poised to make another title run during the 2016-17 season with James as their unquestioned leader. James is once again expected to be in the MVP conversation, too; he has been given 5-1 odds to win the award, according to Bleacher Report.

Taking the present dominance of James and the Cavs into consideration, it is pretty safe to assume that Wade would have wanted to put himself into position to win a fourth ring had he joined Cleveland. In 2016, however, Wade is no longer tempted by the allure of teaming up with James; he’s been there, done that.

Wade is continuing his career in his hometown. In his own words, it is what he really wanted to do. The “Windy City” has welcomed home one of its own and it is Wade’s preference to be there.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

99782
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments