Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

NBA Legend Dwyane Wade Gets Upset With Miami Heat

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Dec 16, 2025 1:28 PM ET

Dwyane Wade spent 15 seasons with the Miami Heat, becoming one of the most iconic figures in franchise history. A 13-time NBA All-Star, three-time NBA champion and 2006 Finals MVP, Wade was the cornerstone of Miami’s rise to prominence in the 2000s and 2010s.

Following his retirement in 2019, the Heat honored him by retiring his No. 3 jersey and later unveiled a statue outside Kaseya Center in 2024. In 2023, Wade’s illustrious career was further celebrated with induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy among the game’s greats.

Even after retirement, Wade has remained a respected voice in NBA circles and an important presence in the Miami community, frequently commenting on the Heat’s performance and culture and maintaining close ties with the franchise and its fans.

Former Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade.Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

On Tuesday, Wade publicly expressed frustration following Miami’s 117-108 loss to the Orlando Magic in the NBA Cup quarterfinals during an episode of his “Wy Network” podcast. Wade took issue with the Heat’s effort level, calling out what he viewed as a lack of urgency in a high-stakes setting.

“I was pissed off watching the effort that night, I didn’t like it,” Wade said. “I’m yelling at the TV ‘Y’ALL DON’T WANT TO GO TO VEGAS?’ I need better effort. I’m used to Miami Heat team having resilience, that’s who we are. We’re resilient. If me and UD were together we would’ve tore some [expletive] up.”

Dwyane Wade calls out the Heats lack of effort in the NBA cup vs Magic

“I was pissed off watching the effort that night, I didn’t like it. I’m yelling at the TV ‘YALL DONT WANT TO GO TO VEGAS?’ I need better effort. I’m used to Miami Heat team having resilience, that’s who we… pic.twitter.com/zBGzIo6vNX
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) December 16, 2025

The Heat were outplayed by Orlando in the quarterfinal matchup, with Desmond Bane scoring 37 points and leading the Magic past Miami, erasing Miami’s early lead and advancing to the semifinals. Orlando shot efficiently from deep and dominated late possessions, while Miami’s offense struggled.

The loss extended Miami’s slide; the team followed it up with a disappointing defeat to the Toronto Raptors on Monday, marking their fifth straight loss and dropping their record to 14-12, the ninth best in the Eastern Conference.

The Heat will look to regroup Thursday on the road against the Brooklyn Nets, a game that presents a chance to snap their skid and regain confidence.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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