Dwyane Wade loves Miami, and the feeling is mutual. The 36-year-old guard returned to the team that drafted him after a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers at the deadline, and he played a role in the Heat making it to the postseason for a first round matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.
On Tuesday night, Wade was his old self against the Sixers, stealing the show in a 113-103 Game 2 win to level the series at a game apiece and take the series back to Miami. Wade was able to spar with his friend, Kevin Hart, about his big performance, but it was truly something: 28 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the win.
After the game, Wade reflected on the importance of his return to Miami and offered some insight about his comfort in playing for the Heat.
“As a basketball player, I feel comfortable being in this uniform. On that sideline with those guys. I didn’t feel comfortable in those other uniforms. I was trying to do it. I just feel like myself here,” Wade told Yahoo Sports. “It doesn’t mean I’m going to score 28 off the bench in the playoffs every night. But when this team needs me to step up and do things, I feel comfortable being able to do that. I don’t know what it is, but this is where I was born at and where I was meant to be. … I played well last year in Boston, Game 2, but it didn’t feel as good as this.”
Wade’s homecoming has been a success for both him personally and the Heat. Fans are thrilled he’s back, and despite an uncertain future, it seems like everyone involved is happy just taking it one game at a time. If he’s serious about his comfort level in Miami, we might be in for some more big games from Wade this spring.
