After spending the entire summer considering his NBA future, Dwyane Wade has finally come to a decision. The 36-year-old has confirmed that he will return to the Miami Heat and play for a 16th NBA season.The three-time champion called it "the hardest decision of his life" and has made it clear that it will be his final campaign before retiring. Wade made the announcement via a special video he posted on YouTube on Sunday.
Deliberation
He spent months weighing up his options and only days ago admitted he was still undecided about his future.
Retirement was a real possibility for the 12-time All-Star but he'll now put that on hold to give his adoring fans in Miami one final year.
"I've always did things my way," said Wade. "Whether they've good or whether they've been bad, I got here because I've done things the way that I feel is right for me and right for my family.
"And what I feel is right ... I feel it's right to ask you guys to join me for one last dance, for one last season.
"This is it. I've given this game everything that I have, and I'm happy about that, and I'm going to give it for one last season, everything else I have left."
D-Wade is expected to sign a one-year, $2.4 million deal for the veteran's minimum later this week to make things official.
He follows his close friend and longtime teammate Udonis Haslem who also committed to one last season with the Heat recently.
Heat legend
The former Finals MVP will go down as the greatest player in the franchise's history as he's the all-time leader in points, assists, steals and games played.
Miami kept one roster spot open for Wade and was prepared to give him as much time as he needed to make a decision.
The legendary shooting guard has now filled it and will report to training camp with his teammates next week.
Wade always maintained that if he did return, he would only sign with the Heat, the team he's spent 14-and-a-half years of his career with.
"Let's enjoy it," Wade said. "Let's have some joy through this last season.
"Let's push this young team over the hump and let's write our own story to the end of this career, together. Together."
The future Hall of Famer will surely get the farewell he deserves from around the league this season as his illustrious career winds down.
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