Terry Rozier says playing in Miami is 'full circle moment'

While thousands of Dwyane Wade fans excitedly made the trip to Kaseya Center to cheer on the Miami Heat on a night honoring the franchise icon, one of the biggest Wade fans in the building might have been playing for the other team.

Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier said playing in Miami on the night the Heat honored Dwyane Wade’s Hall of Fame enshrinement and announced plans to build a statue in his honor outside Kaseya Center later this year was a “full circle” moment.

“I think it’s just dope, it came full circle,” Rozier told All U Can Heat after Miami’s 104-87 win. “One of my favorite players to ever play and now playing against his team he was introduced to the Hall Of Fame. So I think it’s just dope coming full circle moment. It’s dope to see it.”

Would Hornets guard Terry Rozier welcome a chance to play for the same Miami Heat franchise of his childhood hero, Dwyane Wade?

Rozier, who wears No. 3 for the Hornets, grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, as a huge fan of Dwyane Wade. He collected Wade’s sneakers and studied his moves. During Wade’s final season in 2019, Rozier met and swapped jerseys with his childhood idol. 

“I think it’s just unique given how much I follow him, how much inspiration he’s given to me on the basketball side,” Rozier, who played for the Boston Celtics before getting traded to the Hornets, said then. “He changed the game for me. Then I get to witness this one last dance.”

Rozier has been mentioned as a potential trade target for the Heat ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline. He’s under contract for two more seasons after this one, and is averaging 24 points and 6.8 assists on 45.7% shooting overall and 36.% on 3s. 

He finished Sunday’s game with 26 points (on 8 for 23 shooting), seven assists and five rebounds, while committing just one turnover and going 6 for 6 at the free-throw line.