Dwayne Wade’s All-Star Tenure Ends With A Whimper

Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Eastern Conference guard Dwyane Wade (3) of the Miami Heat is introduced before the 2014 NBA All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The death knell rang out across the Twitter universe on Tuesday afternoon. It signaled the end of Dwyane Wade’s All-Star career with a whimper and not with a bang:

Breaking: Dwyane Wade will not play in All-Star Game.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) February 10, 2015

Wade chose to forgo participating in the All-Star game itself, although he still traveled with the team to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on Wednesday night before moving on to New York with fellow reserve Chris Bosh. He explained his reasons to the Sun-Sentinel’s Shandel Richardson:

“I went through this week and took it day by day. I feel real good. I feel like I could play to push it, but I don’t know if that will be a smart thing to do. I think the smart thing to do is to continue to use this All-Star Break, strengthen myself a little more and be ready for the second-half push. I think I owe it to the Heat fans to at least play in a Heat jersey first.”

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The nod to Miami’s fans is a nice touch, considering this past summer’s decision to re-sign with the team. Wade gave up millions by opting out of his existing deal and took less money to stay, as he put it, a “Heat Lifer.”

But the All-Star news is unfortunate for many reasons. For the nostalgic, it was an opportunity to see Wade, Bosh and their former teammate, LeBron James, back on the floor and on the same team. It would have brought a slight bit of drama and intrigue to a spectacle that is largely pointless.

Would James catch lob passes from his old running mate, Wade, or from Kyrie Irving, his point guard in Cleveland?

Moreover, Wade’s regrettable decision to forgo the event signifies that we will never see him representing his team or his Conference in this regard again.

Wade was on pace to be voted in as an All-Star starter. His numbers this year have been great (21.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game) except for one (he’s missed 16 of 51 games this season). He’s a popular player, both here and abroad, where his existing endorsement deal with Chinese shoe manufacturer Li Ning is bound to produce a few extra votes.

He might have remained a starter if not for a last-minute campaign launched by Canadian Justin Bieber to have Kyle Lowry (a deserving All-Star, to be sure) voted in. It worked.

Despite Wade’s many absences, he was still selected as a reserve by coaches around the league, meaning he still – and deservedly – has their respect. But how much longer will that last?

Wade is still a capable player, not nearly as explosive as he once was but a master of the so-called “old man’s game,” where he uses his years of experience to impact the game without relying on his fading athleticism. But his numbers are somewhat inflated given that Bosh has been the only other reliable scorer for the Heat this season.

Moreover, most of Wade’s production took place before the emergence of Hassan Whiteside, who will and should continue to be a focal point for the Heat, both this season and the next.

Whiteside’s the real deal, whether you’re the staunchest Wade supporter or not, and he’s the future of the franchise moving forward. His skill set is still raw and developing and he’s still dominating; his incredible size and length aren’t going anywhere.

The Heat will need to transition to a team that utilizes Bosh and Whiteside more often, leaving Wade – and his production – to phase out.

It’s a harsh reality and one that most Miami fans will likely clamor against but it’s a necessary part of continuing to remain relevant and, one day, challenge for a championship.

The Heat aren’t last year’s San Antonio Spurs or this year’s Atlanta Hawks – five fingers forming one hand – and Wade’s continued absences show that it’s time to think about a future where he won’t be in the lineup at all.

Until that time, a lesser version of Wade will continue to grace the court and the time he scored 28 points in the 2010 All-Star Game to win the event’s MVP trophy will be confined to just video or memory:

It’s a sad end to a Hall-of-Fame career from one of the top players at his position. But it’s the new reality for the Miami Heat and the team’s fans, one that will be tough for them swallow. Normally, learning when to call it quits is hardest for the players themselves.

But Wade’s decision shows he’s accepted this. He’s walking away – today from the All-Star game, soon from the sport itself – on his own terms.

Next: 50 Greatest NBA Players Without a Championship

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