Dwyane Wade won't play in ASG
MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade said he won't play in Sunday's All-Star Game because he would rather return from his latest injury absence in a Miami Heat uniform first.
"The Heat fans deserve for me to get on the court with the Heat first than be out seven games and then play in the All-Star Game," Wade said after Tuesday's practice in Miami. "I wasn't going to play much either way it goes. The smartest thing to do will be to use this All-Star break and strengthen myself a little more for the second-half push."
Wade has been sidelined for two weeks to recover from a right hamstring injury, and the Heat's leading scorer will miss his seventh consecutive game Wednesday against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wade did practice Tuesday and traveled with the team to Cleveland but said it was too soon to try to test the hamstring against the Cavaliers.
This is the third time this season Wade has been out with a hamstring injury to either leg. He has missed 16 games this season for the struggling Heat, who are 22-29 and fighting to remain in contention for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Wade is averaging 21.4 points and 5.4 assists this season, but has been unable to stay on the court consistently.
Wade said he met with Heat president Pat Riley earlier this week before a decision was reached on his status for Sunday's All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden.
Wade, an 11-time All-Star, was selected as a reserve after being voted a starter by fans for the past seven seasons. He will travel to New York for the weekend to participate in several league functions as well as for his charitable ventures.
With Wade stepping aside, it opens a spot in the East that will be filled by commissioner Adam Silver. Wade said he would like to see South Florida native and Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Knight get the spot. Another potential candidate to fill the vacancy is Atlanta Hawks swingman Kyle Korver, the NBA's leading 3-point shooter.
Knight is averaging 17.7 points, a career-best 5.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds for the Bucks (29-23), who are sixth in the East after finishing with the league's worst record last season. Korver is averaging 12.9 points and shooting 52.8 percent from 3-point range for the Hawks (43-10), who have the NBA's best record and are sending three All-Stars to New York, in addition to coach Mike Budenholzer.
"We communicated with them earlier," Wade said of informing the league of his intentions. "Coach Riley and I sat down and talked about what was the best thing to do and I felt this was best. I'd rather have someone who's had a really good year go out there and get their first All-Star appearance. It will be even more special for them."
