Editor's note: This gallery was originally posted on Feb. 21, 2020, when the Miami Heat retired Dwyane Wade's jersey. On Saturday, the long-time Heat star will be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Miami celebrated Dwyane Wade's 16-year NBA career by retiring his No. 3 jersey. That makes this the perfect opportunity to look back at some of D-Wade's greatest moments in a Miami Heat uniform.
With the fifth pick in the 2003 NBA draft, the Miami Heat selected Dwyane Wade, a first-team All-American out of Marquette University. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images It didn't take long for Wade's impact to be felt. On Nov. 19, 2004, Wade hit his first game-winner as an NBA player. The smooth jumper from just inside the arc gave the Heat an overtime victory over the Utah Jazz and capped a 39-point night for Wade. Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images Two seasons later, Wade was an NBA champion. The Heat found themselves in an 0-2 hole going into Game 3 of the 2006 Finals, but Wade was not deterred. The next four games -- all wins -- Wade led the Heat in scoring on his way to a Finals MVP trophy. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images ESPN Films: D. Wade - Life Unexpected
On of the most vicious posters of Wade's career came in a 2009 game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wade dunked over Anderson Varejao as future teammate LeBron James looked on. "It was great, probably top 10 all-time," James said after the game. Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images Wade made 12 All-Star Game appearances with the Heat, but probably his most memorable was in 2010, when he nabbed MVP honors after a 28-point, 11-assist performance. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images The Heat really became the Heat in 2006, when Wade, left, Chris Bosh, middle, and LeBron James, right, were introduced together for the first time. Everyone knew it was the start of something big. Marc Serota/Getty Images The on-court chemistry between James and Wade really made the Heat go. They always seemed to know where the other was going to be, and the no-look pass from Wade to James that set up this iconic image is the perfect example. AP Photo/Morry Gash Related: Miami Heat found their icon in Dwyane Wade
Wade won his second Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2012. The 2006 championship was won at the Mavericks' home court in Dallas, but this time Wade got to celebrate in Miami. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images A year later, Wade celebrated the third and final championship of his playing career. Later that year, he proposed to actress Gabrielle Union, right. The couple married in August 2014 in Miami. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee The Big Three dismantled in 2014, when LeBron returned to Cleveland, but Wade stuck around until 2016. His first stint with the team that drafted him ended with a Game 7 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference finals. Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP At the 2018 trade deadline, Wade was dealt back to the Heat. In his first appearance post-trade, the Miami crowd gave Wade a standing ovation when he came off the bench in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images On Sept. 16, 2018, Wade posted a YouTube video announcing he would play one last season, then retire. That meant a farewell tour that garnered tributes at opposing arenas and jersey swaps with competitors and friends along the way. Harry How/Getty Images With the Heat on a six-game home losing streak, Wade came of the bench to score 25 points, including a 3-pointer that would prove to be the final buzzer-beater of his clutch career. He immediately ran to the scorer's table to celebrate with the fans. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images It was back to the scorer's table one last time after his final regular-season game on April 9, 2019. He thanked the Miami fans after he put on a brilliant fourth-quarter performance that included four 3-pointers. Mark Brown/Getty Images 