Dwyane Wade rules out China move as undecided All-Star declares he only has eyes for Miami Heat if he makes NBA return
Offers reportedly on the table from two CBA teams but three-time champion considers himself a ‘lifer’ with team where he spent most of 15-year career
Dwyane Wade said during a Saturday appearance at the Jnr NBA World Championships in Orlando that he remains undecided about his playing future, but that if he does return to the court in 2018-19 it will only be with the Miami Heat.
Wade’s comments came in the wake of speculation of possibly continuing his career in the Chinese Basketball Association – his signature sneaker line is based in China – or even rejoining former Heat teammate LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Heat only. If I play the game of basketball this year, it’ll be in a Miami uniform,” he told media at the event at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. “If I don’t, I’ll be living in Miami or somewhere else probably.”
Wade, 36, also cautioned not to read too much into the workout videos he has posted on social media.
“It becomes a lifestyle after so long,” he said. “So, for me, that’s what I’m doing. It’s that time of the year, where I’ve been for as long as I can remember. This time of the year is where you start getting into the mindset.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t think we’re at that point yet. But I’m still getting into the mindset of getting my body and my mind prepared. And whether I’m playing this year or not, I will be prepared to play. And I’ll make sure that I stay ready.”
Already operating above the NBA salary cap and into the league’s punitive luxury tax, the Heat are limited to an offer to Wade of either the US$5.3 million taxpayer mid-level exception or the US$2.3 million veteran minimum.