Chicago Bulls: Dwyane Wade To Return Against The Miami Heat

The Chicago Bulls are heading to South Beach on Thursday, to take on the Miami Heat in Dwyane Wade’s first game against his old team.

The 2016-17 NBA season is exciting, period. Especially for Chicago Bulls fans. After a year of turbulence both on and off of the court, the organization worked hard all summer to turn things around and revamp the roster.

However, Thursday’s game in South Beach against the Miami Heat is definitely going to be one for the books. Because Dwyane Wade is finally facing off against his former team. A team he was a part of for 13 years.

But it goes beyond just that.

Wade was the face of the franchise.

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Just as Bulls fans were anxiously awaiting the opportunity to host Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and the rest of the New York Knicks, Heat Nation is salivating at the thought of seeing Wade play in their house again.

The difference of course being that while Rose and Noah were not necessarily received in the most open of arms, Wade should be welcomed back like royalty.

In fact, many are already talking about the tribute video the Heat are set to play for Wade.

Emotions will be running high.

It is no longer a secret what caused Wade to leave Miami behind, and in that things are bound to get emotional.

While the superstar may not have seen eye to eye with president Pat Riley, he certainly did not ever want to leave guys like Udonis Haslem behind.

"“We keep in touch. We talk all the time. I watch his games,” Haslem told the Miami Herald. “I’m sure he watches our games. He told me he thought we had a good team. I’m sure he does watch our games. Our friendship continues to carry on.”"

But alas, he now has a new group of guys to rely on, and has not been shy about trying to prepare them for Thursday.

"“He just said, ‘Y’all better be ready to play on Thursday. I’ll tell you that much,'” Taj Gibson explained."

And when teammate Bobby Portis asked him if he was ready? Wade replied:

"“Nah, I ain’t. I don’t know what kind of emotions will come over me. I don’t know how I’ll feel. What it’ll look like…”"

The Bulls as a whole may not have much at stake (minus winning or losing another game on the docket) but for Wade, this will be so much more than a game.