Prior to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, the Miami Heat acquired Dwyane Wade from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for a heavily protected 2024 second-round draft pick. The excitement of Heat fans is reflected in the team’s merchandise sales:
Heat put @DwyaneWade jerseys on sale at 5pm yesterday. Received orders from more than 100 countries in 15 hours. Team merchandise sales are up 8000% from the previous two days. pic.twitter.com/nD3Gt0v2Ai
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 9, 2018
Wade left the Heat two summers ago to join the Chicago Bulls on a two-year contract worth $47 million.
The following offseason, the Bulls bought out Wade, and he signed with the Cavs.
Wade is the Heat’s career leader in games played, minutes played, points, field goals, free throws, assists and steals. He’s the greatest player in the Heat’s history, and it’s not particularly close.
Wade spent the first 13 years of his career with the Heat and compiled career averages of 23.7 points and 5.8 assists per game.
Wade won a championship with the Heat in 2006, then won another two in 2012 and 2013.
Now, he’s back. He’s not quite what he once was on the court, but it’s still very cool and fitting that he’s reuniting with the Heat.
