MIAMI _ The night was all about retiring Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade.
The celebration of his 16 years of NBA basketball _ 14 and a half of those with the Heat, 13 of them as an All-Star and three of them finishing with a championship brought back to "His House" in his final home game at AmericanAirlines Arena on Tuesday.
But as much as it was about Wade, when he had the microphone, almost perfectly symbolizing how he was always one to sacrifice throughout his career, he honored his Heat teammates.
Wade singled out every teammate on the current roster _ even those that didn't make it through the entire season on the Heat (Tyler Johnson, Wayne Ellington and Rodney McGruder).
It was emotional when Wade saved for last the teammate with whom he entered the league with, Udonis Haslem: "And last but not least, my brother, UD."
He continued: "I thank you guys for being with me this year. I thank you guys for your patience this year. I thank y'all for y'all generosity this year. I thank y'all for y'all support. I thank y'all for y'all love. I thank y'all for having my back this year.
"So this season ain't about me. I'm enjoying this season with you guys, man. I got some brothers that'll always be my brother. I love you guys, man."
And then he shifted it to the fans: "Heat Nation, thank you."
With that, it was time to play basketball. And for Wade to start _ something he hadn't done since Oct. 21, 2017 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Right away, Wade dunked off a pass from forward/center Kelly Olynyk on the Heat's opening possession.
When Wade stepped up to the microphone for his pregame speech, which he kept short, sweet and to the point, he did so with an introduction from his oldest son, Zaire.
Zaire re-enacted Wade's iconic introduction from his Converse commercial: "From Robbins, Illinois. Six-foot-4 guard, my dad, Dwyane ... Waaaade!"
And Dwyane Wade took the mic to chants of "MVP!"
"Nope. Y'all ain't going to make me cry before the game," he proclaimed to the fans.
"I want to thank you for this moment. I want to thank you for this entire season. As much as I appreciate my teammates and my coaching staff."
And during a pause, one single fan yelled out "We love you, Dwyane!" so loud it echoed through the arena and brought a roar from the crowd.
Two-time champion as his Heat teammate, Chris Bosh was in the front row, as well as Wade's wife and actress Gabrielle Union, the rest of his family, singer John Legend, who made the "3 is a Magic Number" Gatorade tribute released earlier Tuesday, and Legend's wife Chrissy Teigen.
Video tributes played throughout the night. The first one, pregame, split the story of his career into three acts _ as if in a play. The first act was narrated partly by Shaquille O'Neal, his sidekick for the first championship Wade brought to the Heat in 2006, when he was Finals MVP.
Act 2 had LeBron James narrate, chronicling the Big 3 era as the Heat made four straight NBA Finals appearances and won back-to-back titles. Act 3 had Union and Haslem detail Wade's return to Miami after quick stints with the Bulls and Cavaliers. Haslem referenced Wade as "the player that fell down seven times and stood up eight."
Coach Erik Spoelstra was quoted and president Pat Riley finished it with this: "Because no matter what new narratives lie ahead, know that this city will always be proud to rep your name across our backs _ just as you carried us on yours.
"Because this is and forever will be Wade County."
Other video tributes followed throughout. During the first timeout, former President Barack Obama honored him with his words, adding some comedy.
"I know what you're going through because saying goodbye to a career that you love is never easy. I've been there," said Obama. "In my case, though, I never really had a choice."
It was familial over the next two timeouts with Wade's nephew, Dahveon, and sons Zion and Zaire speaking. Zion delighted the crowd, comically begging his father not go out losing his last home game. Among what was said by Zaire, who is a junior at American Heritage in Plantation and a college basketball recruit: "Thank you for giving me the blueprint."
Watching Wade be honored motivated his younger teammates.
"That's a level that I want to get," said Justise Winslow. "I want the fans to be parked outside and banging on the bus trying to get an autograph from me one day.
"This whole season has been a motivation for me, just watching him handle it all with humility."
The finality of Wade's Heat career comes with Spoelstra noting he's always welcome in "His House."
"I'm going to leave a spot open always as an honorary coach," Spoelstra said. "I know he will not take that. He's too smart."
Spoelstra said his lasting memory with Wade will be how we went back to find Spoelstra, hug him and thank him when he made his game-winner against the Utah Jazz _ something Spoelstra said he had no necessity to do because making the shot was something he did on his own.
Wade's goodbye at AmericanAirlines Arena exhibited the same kind of selflessness. It was supposed to be all about him, but he made sure to honor everyone around him.
