Los Angeles Lakers: Could Dwyane Wade go out like Kobe Bryant

Could the retirement of Dwyane Wade be similar to the one of Los Angeles Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant?

In 2016, the NBA saw two stars, Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers and Tim Duncan with the San Antonio Spurs retire. Now, another all-time great is preparing to retire.

Dwyane Wade finally made it official that he would go around the block one more time and play his 16th and final season in the NBA with the Miami Heat. He called it “One last dance”.

The announcement can put to bed any Lakers rumors that he will play with LeBron James for the third different franchise in their respective careers. With one of this era’s most iconic players ready to hang up the sneakers for good, it takes us back to another icon that retired before him…

The Black Mamba…Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant ended his career in a way that may never be duplicated. After two years of Lakers struggles and representing the only reason to buy a ticket, Kobe Bryant exploded for 60 points in the career-ending swansong against the Utah Jazz leading the Lakers to victory winning 101-96. Here’s what makes it a Hollywood ending…stars showed up…

Umm, I could ask where’s Beyonce in the picture, but we are professionals here at Lake Show Life!

Like you didn’t think Jack Nicholson wasn’t going to be there…

Finally, Kanye and one of my all-time favorite players, Lamar Odom.

Understand that Kobe Bryant stole the spotlight from the Golden State Warriors, who originally had residence trying to break the Chicago Bulls regular season record for wins with 73.

That took a back seat quickly, as Kobe Bryant loaded up his right arm and started firing shot after shot until the Lakers secured the victory and he set a career high with 50 attempts. What’s even more amazing was like the game he smoked the Raptors like a pack of Kool’s for 81 points, the Lakers needed all of them to pull it out.

There have been plenty of retirement tours that have gone in the NBA. Julius Erving was the first one that I remembered getting a retirement tour. In some ways, it was cool, but his time had passed. The Godfather of the Slam Dunk contest that we have today in the NBA went out graciously, but as the shadow of who Dr. J was throughout his career.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s retirement tour was well deserved, but everyone knew that he stayed about two to three years longer than he should.

Up until the last game of Bryant’s career, it looked almost like we had all seen this movie before. An icon who was well respected, but had fallen off and the NBA family would politely show their appreciation for a 20 year career with gifts and kind words.

In a sense, this seemed worse because there were nights that Kobe did not play. It was obvious that the Lakers were moving on to start the youth movement. The Lakers HAD TO move on to start over and everyone. I mean everyone including  Kobe knew it.

This game gave all parties involved a chance to celebrate an icon in a setting where he could give one last reminder what he could do at anytime.

The only player in history who could have come close to Bryant’s epic finish was…well easy guess, Michael Jordan with that final shot in a Chicago Bulls uniform to sink the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals. That memory was overshadowed when Jordan came back and had a two year run with the Washington Wizards with no playoff appearances.

But does Dwyane Wade want to top this story book finish?

Oddly, Dwyane Wade has decided to forego the the tour…for now.

In a conversation with ESPN’s Jorge Sedano, Dwyane Wade doesn’t see a repeat performance of a tour that Kobe Bryant had.

Why not? Dwyane Wade has earned the respect of the NBA and is beloved by the fans worldwide. Why not enjoy the attention, D-Wade?

"“I talked to Kobe about that,” Wade said. “he was like ‘It was exhausting. As flattering as it was, it was exhausting as well.’ I’m not a narcissist like that. I don’t think I need it. I’m not calling Kobe a narcissist. He earned it and needed that. But I can’t set out and say I want a farewell tour like Kobe Bryant. That’s not who I am. I don’t really talk about it.. but when the time comes [to retire] I’ll announce it in my own D-Wade fashion. Hopefully I can move on and live on the memories from that point on.”"

The Miami Heat are not known for honoring opposing players. With Pat Riley in charge with his competitive spirit, it’s not surprising.

The only players that got honored by the Miami Heat were the “The Captain” Kareem Abdul Jabbar who was presented with a sculpture for a gift and Michael Jordan, who had his jersey retired in 2003 when he was a part of the Wizards.

This might be the last go around for D-Wade, but barring injuries, it will be a little different compared to the way Kobe Bryant went out during the season according to Pat Riley…

"“I want Dwyane back as a player, I want him back as a guy that wants to have the greatest year he’s ever had as a player,” Riley said in late July. “I read more articles about Dwyane being done, he’s lost a step, he’s not the same player, he might not have the same motivation. There have been a lot of things written about him in that context.“But I still see a player who can contribute heavily if he really wants to. If he plays, he’s going to want to do that. We don’t want him back as a placemat holder or somebody who’s going to be a veteran in the locker room. Dwyane is a great player, a great talent. He’s not the same guy he was in 2006, but he can be a very good player for us and can make a big difference for us. We want him back as a guy that realizes if this is going to be his last year or whatever, we want this to be his best year ever.”"

Looks like the Heat may have some plans for D-Wade, even though the transitional period has been in effect since Wade left for Chicago.

Plus it bears mentioning that these two players were in two different dynamics in their respective careers. It is probably a foregone conclusion that Wade is coming off the bench and will help mentor and develop the young players. Kobe Bryant was still the man in his final season, and based on the last game of his career, was still the Lakers best player.

Since D-Wade is too humble to have his farewell tour, on behalf of Lake Show Life, I would like to welcome him back to his 16th and last season. I secretly did not want him to retire and it’s cool to let everyone in the NBA see him for one more season. I got my invitation to D-Wade’s last dance.

Here’s his invite to you from the man himself…

"“What I feel is it’s right to ask you guys to join me for one last dance. For one last season. This is it. I’ve given this game everything that I have, and I’m happy about that. And I am going to give it for one last season everything else I have left. Let’s enjoy it…. Let’s push this young team over the hump and write our own story to the end of this career together. Season 1-6, we call it sweet 16, it’s coming to the arena real soon.”"

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