'Ultimate fan' Wade enjoying Heat's success from afar
Dwyane Wade is embracing his new role as a fan of the Miami Heat.
The retired Heat star shared his thoughts on the team's current playoff run during an interview with Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
"Even though I played for this organization and we've done some incredible things and I know these guys, I'm just a fan," Wade said. "I watch from afar and I'm coaching like they can hear me. I'm screaming at them like they can hear me and I'm texting them after the game the same way. Hopefully they can hear me. I'm just a fan that knows the game very well and knows the organization and the team very well who has access to the players. It's like the ultimate fan."
Wade played in Miami from 2003 to 2016 and again from 2017 to 2019, winning three championships and a Finals MVP award. The Heat retired his jersey earlier this year.
"You still have your connection to the team. It's still there because it's immediate," Wade said. "Being able to be connected with the players and still have that conversation and back-and-forth banter, and giving encouragement or watching the game and giving my inside on what I see. It has been great. As I've been told for many years, you enjoy the success of others. I've been able to sit back from afar and enjoy the success of the individuals who I know that play for the team now."
The Heat will face the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday.