(Reuters) Dwyane Wade has not decided if he will continue his NBA career.
The 36-year-old guard was non-committal Tuesday night after his Miami Heat were eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 of a first-round Eastern Conference playoff series. The 76ers topped the visiting Heat 104-91.
Asked about his future postgame, Wade said, “One thing I ain’t worried about right now is that. That’s not my focus fresh off this NBA season, my 15th year. I’ll sit back and think about that. I’ll dive in and throw myself into my family. They are next on my bucket list of making sure I am there for them.
“And when it comes to the basketball side of it, which is a long time away from now, then I’ll think about that. But right now, I ain’t concerned with it.”
If his wife has any say in the matter, Wade might continue playing. Actress Gabrielle Union tweeted, “I hope this isnt the end, but my God… @DwyaneWade has a career most people dream of. He is a damn legend. An icon. And hes cute #HeatNation”
She then retweeted a post that pointed out only two players in NBA history — Michael Jordan and LeBron James — have equaled or surpassed his career totals in games, points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocked shots, All-Star selections (12) and NBA championships (three).
Wade began this season with the Cleveland Cavaliers before he was dealt to the Heat in February for a protected 2024 second-round draft pick. He wound up averaging 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in a combined 67 games for Cleveland and Miami in 2017-18.
In the postseason series against Philadelphia, Wade averaged 18 points, four rebounds and 3.3 assists.
Wade holds career marks of 22.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
