Dwyane Wade opens up on career, retirement, life ahead of final NBA game
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The end is here for Dwyane Wade.
One last bus ride from the hotel to the arena. One last pregame warm-up. One last game. One last shot. One last point. One last bus ride from the arena to the airport. One last flight back to Miami. One last drive from the airport to his home as an NBA player.
Wade plays his final NBA game, in Brooklyn, on Wednesday ā #onelastdance, as he dubbed it when he announced in September that the 2018-19 season would be his last.
So this is it ā after Wednesdayās season-ending game, it will be 1,054 regular-season games, 177 playoff games, three NBA championships, one Finals MVP award, 13 All-Star selections, eight all-NBA honors, more than 23,000 points (30th in NBA history), 3,954 playoff points (10th in history), top 30 in career steals, the most blocks by a guard in NBA history, and two Olympic medals (one gold, one bronze).
The history of the NBAās all-time greatest shooting guards, as it is written today, includes Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Clyde Drexler and Wade, who is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.
And for Wade, the end comes without regret or second guesses or disappointment or agony.
The farewell has been wonderful, from fan acknowledgement to memorable jersey swaps to still-has-it performances to the emotional, life-affirming Budwesier short video highlighting Wadeās impact on people off the court, including his mom Jolinda.
Wade reflected on his retirement during an interview with USA TODAY Sports in Minneapolis over the weekend. The interview has been edited for brevity.
Q: Itās obvious you have at least another year in you. Youāve had a 35-point game this season. You just had 21 points in the first half Friday against Minnesota. How many people have suggested you should play next season?
A: Everybody. Even family. A lot of people have asked me, āAre you having second thoughts?ā I always say, āI can keep playing.ā I tell everybody, āIām not retiring because I canāt play no more.ā They say, āYouāve got another year.ā And I say, āYeah, I can come back in this role, 25 minutes and come off the bench.ā I went through a lot physically, and I worked hard to get myself back to where Iām able to perform this way. Iām thankful Iām able to go out with no pain. I feel like, you know what? Iāve done enough. Iām 37 years old, 16 years, five finals. Iāve done enough. Itās time for me to move out of the way and let the next generation do their thing.
GALLERY: Dwyane Wade through the years
Q: How did you know it was time?
A: It was just a feeling. It just felt like it was time. Once I got to the point where there were a lot of things in the process that I just didnāt enjoy. I donāt enjoy working out in the summers getting ready for this, the last summer. I didnāt enjoy a lot of things. Once I get to the point where Iām not enjoying the process ā because Iāve enjoyed the process in my career, whether itās coming back from injuries, coming back from losing in the Finals ā and this summer I just didnāt enjoy it. It was a big sign. I think itās time before something happens.
Q: Why was it important to go out on your terms?
A: Thereās going to come a time no matter if itās this year or two years from now when Iām 39, thereās going to come a time when I have to give it up. So I decided before it gets to the point where the team is looking at me and going, āWe have to play these young guys,ā I decided I wanted to go out on my terms and still show people I can go out and I can still go a little bit. Not everyone gets to choose. I sat down and thought about that. I thought about the greats who didnāt get this opportunity. I thought about teammates who didnāt get this opportunity. You know what, like Melo told me, 'You have to do it for us to celebrate you.ā A lot of people donāt get this chance. Youāve got to take it.
Q: You said you didnāt enjoy the process. What about it donāt you enjoy anymore?
A: I donāt like being gone from home too long. I donāt like the fact that I have to leave my daughter to come on this road trip. I donāt like two-week road trips. I donāt like shoot- arounds in the morning. I donāt like getting up at 9 some mornings to go to shoot-around. I donāt like certain things. I understand the reason for them and all. This process is not exciting to me anymore where it used to be. I get bored with it. I try to talk myself into it ā¦
Q: What has been more gratifying about this season?
A: Coming into this year, first of all, I had to muster up everything and figure out what I wanted to do. And to come back and have the ovations everywhere Iāve been and to be able to play well as well along this process has been great.
You donāt know coming into the year. You donāt know how the fans are going to be. You donāt know how this season is going to be for you. I didnāt know how it was going to be. I trusted coach (Erik Spoelstra). He said to me, āTrust me through this process in your last season.ā You wouldnāt want anyone else helping you through this journey and I trust him.
Q: How will you remember this season?
A: Iām taking all the memories in. For me in my mind, I dedicated this season to my agent (Henry Thomas), who was not able to go on this journey with me. Along with this process, I just tried to make him proud and make everybody proud that weāve handled it great off the court, that Iāve handled it well with the fans and I handled the game well and going out and being prepared and being ready and going out there and competing. I think Iāve checked the box on all those things.
Q: What will you miss?
A: Everything. This is what I know. Iāve been playing high-level basketball since college, almost 20 years. Iām going to miss everything, and even the things I donāt like right now, Iām going to miss.
Thereās nothing like getting that feeling when I run through the tunnel and Iām one of the best to play in this game. Itās a feeling you get. Itās an amazing feeling. Incredible. And just to see young kids, the way they look at you, too, just because of the sport you play. And the way parents look at you because of the way you handle yourself. Thereās nothing like that look when you see a kid admiring you who has your jersey on and looking at you with these big eyes.
Q: How will you spend your time?
A: I have no idea. I know I have a lot of kids. I have a beautiful wife (Gabrielle Union) who has a career. I know Iāve got a lot of business things Iām doing. From there, Iāll figure everything else out. Itās going to be different. Itās going to be tough.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt