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Tim BontempsESPN
MIAMI — Dwyane Wade‘s final game at American Airlines Arena — and possibly the final game of his Hall of Fame career — started off with a bang.
The Miami Heat, with whom Wade has spent 14-plus seasons of the 16 he has been in the league, honored Wade with a pregame ceremony complete with a video tribute of his career that was narrated by a combination of family and significant figures from his legendary career.
“Man, you’re going to make me cry before this game,” Wade told the crowd with a laugh after the video played. “Man, I love you guys.
“I’m thankful for this moment. I’m thankful for this entire season.”
Wade, who was standing next to his oldest son, Zaire, then thanked every one of his teammates this season by name, including those who had since been cut or traded.
“I thank you guys for dancing with me this year,” Wade said. “I thank you guys for your patience this year. I thank you for all your love, and for you having my back this year.
“I’ve got some brothers that will always be my brothers. I love you guys.”
The tribute video began with Spoelstra, who has been Wade’s head coach for most of the past decade and whose first season as a full-time NBA assistant coincided with Wade’s rookie season. It then transitioned to Shaquille O’Neal, who narrated the first act of Wade’s career, covering the championship they won together in 2006.
From there, it shifted to the second act, narrated by LeBron James and covering both the “Big Three” era here, which saw the Heat win two titles and reach four NBA Finals in four years, as well as him leaving to go to the Chicago Bulls in the summer of 2015.
“Pressure like that could’ve hindered you,” James said of the challenges that faced those Heat teams, “but instead it hardened you, fortifying you as a player, a man and a leader.
“Then you reached the top of the mountain twice more. Different case, same conclusion.
“Your second act saw your arrivals as one of the most respected athletes on Earth, and the departure your home that got you there.”
The final act, then, was narrated by three people: Wade’s wife, actress Gabrielle Union; Udonis Haslem, his longtime teammate; and Pat Riley, who either coached or ran the team for Wade’s entire career.
“We cheered, we cried, we chanted your name all throughout the city and up to the rafters,” Union said. “It was more than a reunion, it was a revival of the part you meant to play — from flash to fatherhood.”
“And now, you take the stage one final time, we salute you,” Haslem said, “as the player that fell down seven times, and stood up eight.”
“Because, no matter what narratives lie ahead,” Riley said, “know this city will always be proud to rep your name across its backs.
“Because this is, and forever will be, Wade County.”
The video then cut to Zaire Wade, who was shown walking into American Airlines Arena all by himself — first mimicking some of his father’s moves, from the pull-up mid-range jumper to a pump fake — before slowly walking up the steps of the bowl to a microphone, where he sat and introduced his father.
When the lights came up, Zaire was standing at center court, where his father then walked to him and greeted him before addressing the crowd.
Throughout the video, Wade’s eyes rarely left the jumbotron screens above him, other than to briefly scan the crowd a couple of times. He kept moving himself around stretching, but his eyes stayed locked above him as the video played.
Shortly thereafter, following Wade’s speech to the crowd, he was then given a full introduction by longtime Heat public address announcer Michael Baiamonte, as the final player announced in the starting lineup.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had declined to say whether Wade would start before the game, but it would’ve been shocking if he hadn’t made his first start of this season in what could be his final game in this building.
After spending a moment with Union and their young daughter at center court, and after a pregame video narrated by all of his teammates, Wade took a lap around the court and implored the crowd to get to its feet.
And then, on the first play of the game, he curled into the lane for a wide open dunk, much to the delight of the hometown fans.
Wade scored eight first quarter points to help the Heat jump out to an early 34-20 lead. And, along the way, the Heat continued to tribute to Wade throughout the game by playing small tribute videos during each timeout.
The first was of a fellow Chicagoan, former President Barack Obama, who praised Wade as a fellow Windy City native for his success.
“Whenever you got knocked back down, you showed us how to get back up,” Obama said. “You showed Chicago spirit, and you did us proud.”
The next timeout featured Wade’s other son, Zion, who had a message for his father.
“Now, after all that sweet stuff, don’t lose your last home game,” he said, much to the delight of the home crowd.
During the timeout after the first quarter, a John Legend song narrating highlights from Wade’s childhood played, as well.