Miami Heat: What Dwyane Wade had to say on next Miami superstar, Tua Tagovailoa

The Miami Heat have represented South Florida well, as the Dolphins did before them. Here’s what the Heat’s greatest said to the Dolphins’ next great one.

The Miami Heat have epitomized greatness in South Florida over the last decade and a half or so, but only a fraction of the time that the Miami Dolphins, their football counterparts in the city, had managed to do so before them throughout their existence as a franchise.

While that hasn’t been the case over the last handful of years, to be extremely generous, things may be looking up for the Phins of Miami. With their first-round pick in this most recent NFL Draft, the fifth overall pick to be exact, Miami selected Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in that position.

Charged with bringing winning back to the Dolphins fans, Tua will definitely have his work cut out for him. Heck, he even has those fans down there at the bottom of the Sunshine State thinking about a Super Bowl championship in the near future.

While it isnt’ entirely out of the question at all, they are lofty goals for a franchise that hasn’t exactly been in contention over the last few seasons or 10. While the expectations are lofty in themselves, the responsibility that would come with winning a title in Miami early in your career is immense as well.

The Miami Heat won big early in one of their superstar’s career, Dwyane Wade. This is something the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa hope to mimic.

Luckily for us, we know someone who can expand on that notion, the greatest Miami Heat player ever to be clear. Here are a few words on the subject from Dwyane Wade, per a piece by ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe.

"Wade remembers it wasn’t until after he led the Heat to their first championship in 2006 that he became the face of South Florida sports. He returned to Miami and hopped in his convertible with a buddy. Fans sighted him and rushed the car. He couldn’t drive another block.“I looked at my friend and said, ‘Yo, this is different,'” Wade said. “I enjoyed it. But I knew it would never be normal in this city from that point on. I had to get used to being a celebrity. The perks were great, but the non-privacy was not so great.”“Wade County” was born and didn’t slow down. His presence remains large in Miami, but since he retired following the 2018-19 season, there has been an active-superstar void."

What a mind-blowing experience it must have been for a young Dwyane Wade. Not only was he being thrust into a superstar’s role so early in his career, but he was given the keys and naming rights to his city, for the most part.

Dwyane Wade must have understood that though because he would go on to do alright, even if we do say so ourselves.

This has to partly be because he had people to believe in him though. Although not as important as his coaches, his fanbase, his teammates, and hisself, Dwyane Wade obviously believes in Tagovailoa as well. Here’s another Flash quote from that piece that gave us that notion.

"“He’s a hell of a player. Miami, especially at the QB position, really needs that. They need a leader. They need a player,” Wade said. “To come in as a young player and win a game in the second half of a national championship game — that shows some grit, that shows some balls. People have to really believe in you. Miami needs that. The Dolphins need that. Even though I’m a [Chicago] Bears fan, I was rooting for them to get him because Miami needs to get back to where the basketball program is.”"

Indeed and very well put. Football is America’s Game and will always be a bigger overall draw than any other American sport. The Miami Heat are important in South Florida and around the world, but when the Miami Dolphins to experience their next stretch of sustained success, it’ll be a totally different monster.

That is something that the city definitely can’t wait for, most certainly Miami Heat lifer and Miami native, Udonis Haslem the OG himself. Perhaps that success isn’t as far off as it has been, at least that’s what Dwyane Wade thinks. We shall see though won’t we?