Dwyane Wade and Pat Riley are good nowadays, but the former Miami Heat superstar still stands by his original take on how the team president handled things in the summer of 2016.
The 13-time All-Star infamously left Miami to join the Chicago Bulls after failing to agree on new terms with the Heat and the split was less than amicable. But he eventually returned, ending his illustrious career with the team last year.
While Wade and Riley are back in each other’s good graces, the erstwhile shooting guard isn’t planning on changing his view on the way things went down between himself and the Heat president.
“I would never believe Pat did the right thing when it came to me, but once again, everything happens for a reason,” he told ESPN‘s Rachel Nichols this week. “So glad I got an opportunity to play for my hometown team, but, you know, do I feel the way that it was handled would be something that I would never forget? Of course, but I learned from it, I’ve grown from it, I’ve moved on from it and we are hopefully better for it.”
Wade’s No.3 jersey will be retired by the Heat as part of a three-day event – February 21, 22 and 23 – dubbed “The Flashback.” The official retirement ceremony takes place during halftime of the team’s home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 22.
“Well, when you got your own county, you can do different things. It’s about right. Three days for number three, three rings, it all goes. It’s gonna be a special day for me,” he told Nichols. “I try not to get emotional a lot, but I definitely know I’m gonna be emotional.”
