April 2019 Miami Heat Wiretap

2,000 Slovenia Fans Attend Luka Doncic-Goran Dragic Matchup In Miami

Mar 29, 2019 2:42 AM

2,000 Slovenia fans watched the Miami Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks 105-99 as Luka Doncic and Goran Dragic went head-to-head for the first time in the NBA.

"It felt like we were in Ljubljana,'' said Erik Spoelstra of the atmosphere.

Dragic recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Doncic finished with 19 points.

"To buy a ticket, to fly from a different continent here and to stay here and support us, it's something amazing,'' said Dragic, who went back out after the game to address the crowd.

Doncic admitted he was nervous playing in front of his hometown fans.

"It was great. Honestly maybe for the first time in my career I was nervous before the game. It was different for me, but it was a special night," said Doncic.

The win also moved the Heat back into the 8th and final playoff spot.

ESPN

Tags: Luka Doncic, Goran Dragic, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Mark Cuban On 2006 Finals: I Don't Think Anybody Will Doubt We Had It Taken From Us

Mar 27, 2019 6:22 PM

Mark Cuban received a $250,000 fine about the officiating in the 2006 Finals and brought it up again unprompted during an interview on the rivalry of Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki.

"I mean, look, I don't think anybody will doubt we had it taken from us," Cuban said recently. "A different set of referees, a different outcome."

During an interview in 2016, Cuban also complained about the officiating and said he wouldn't bring it up again.

"It will go down in history as the worst officiated Finals in the history of the game. And I don't even think the league will disagree with that. But I think at the 10-year anniversary, I'll stop talking about it."‎

Howard Beck/Bleacher Report

Tags: Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, NBA

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Dirk Nowitzki: Mavs Were Fortunate To Play Big 3 Heat In Year 1

Mar 27, 2019 6:04 PM

Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks lost The Finals in 2006 to the Miami Heat, but defeated them in a relative upset in 2011.

"I think we were fortunate to see them in Year 1 of them getting together," said Nowitzki. "They took their games to another level, figuring out even better how to play off each other, play with each other. They looked almost unbeatable for a while."

The Heat went on to win The Finals in 2012 and 2013 while the Mavericks took a big step backwards.

"Dirk was the best player in the worldat that time, during that series," Riley said.

Howard Beck/Bleacher Report

Tags: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Heat Retire Chris Bosh's No. 1 Jersey

Mar 27, 2019 7:15 AM

Chris Bosh became the 4th Miami Heat player to have his jersey retired following a ceremony on Tuesday night.

"You guys inspired me to come back to the court. You guys gave me the motivation to walk across the room on my hardest days when I didn't have the energy. Picking me up when I'm down, that's what Miami is to me," said Bosh.

Pat Riley called Bosh's rebound in game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals the "biggest rebound and assist in the history of the franchise."

Dwyane Wade added that Bosh was "the piece and the person that made the Big Three era legendary." 

Cameron Wolfe/ESPN

Tags: Chris Bosh, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Dwyane Wade On Final Season: 'I Can Play Another Two, Three Years'

Mar 25, 2019 11:17 PM

Dwyane Wade said he feels like he could play another couple years despite announcing that he would retire at the end of this season.

“I know I can play a solid two more years, especially in this role that I’m in now. I can play another two, three years, definitely," said Wade.

Wade added that he has no regrets over walking away while he can still contribute. 

“People around me want me to keep playing. But I made the decision to say this was my last season and I wanted to walk away the way I’m walking away now and have no regrets about it.”

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Spurs Present Dwyane Wade With Jerseys Of Franchise Players

Mar 21, 2019 12:59 AM

The San Antonio Spurs gave Dwyane Wade signed jerseys from Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker before their matchup. The Spurs also presented Wade with a tribute video.

"Pop let me know that they were going to do something for me here. But that was cool. I didn't know it was going to be before the game, and I liked the music swag they had on it, the videos they put up. It was real cool. I'm so thankful, so appreciative. I don't expect those things to happen to me at all. I just come out and do my job every night. I'm thankful for the relationships I have. I have a great one with Coach, and I just appreciate what they did," said Wade.

Gregg Popovich explained why he thought Wade was an icon in the game.

"He certainly is an iconic figure as far as NBA basketball goes...He had a ferocious attitude on the court. But it was matched with a wonderful smile and a great understanding of the world and community off the court. I think that's what made him so special -- a coveted teammate, somebody that everybody enjoyed playing with, a guy that cared about more than just basketball. That's what makes him iconic in my mind," said Popovich.

Michael C. Wright/ESPN

Tags: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Heat Sign Charles Cooke To 10-Day Contract

Mar 15, 2019 5:34 PM

The Miami Heat have agreed to sign Charles Cooke to a 10-day contract.

Cooke spent last season with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Cooke had been playing for Sioux Falls in the G League, averaging 14.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 31.0 minutes per game.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Charles Cooke, Miami Heat, Sioux Falls Skyforce, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, D-League Teams

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Dwyane Wade On Jersey Swap With Kevin Huerter: 'Us Number 3's Got To Stick Together'

Mar 5, 2019 1:41 AM

Dwyane Wade surprised Kevin Huerter with a jersey swap following the Miami Heat's 114-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

"Obviously, us No. 3s got to stick together. But I've been watching this kid grow from the preseason on to now, and I like his game. I think his game can go to another level, as well. I always want to be someone that a player like that can count on, can reach out to. That was a cool moment for me," said Wade.

Huerter, who grew up wearing Wade's Converse sneaker, chose his number 3 jersey number partly as a tribute to Wade.

"He's always done it the right way. You never hear him with off-court type of stuff. He brought championships to this city. He's been with the Heat for the majority of his career. He's been loyal to them. And as a guy coming up, a young guy, starting out with the Hawks, I hope I can continue a long career with them. The league's going to miss him, for sure," added Huerter.

ESPN

Tags: Kevin Huerter, Dwyane Wade, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Dwyane Wade Becomes All-Time Leader In Blocked Shots By Guard

Mar 5, 2019 1:32 AM

Dwyane Wade registered his 1,052nd block of his career, surpassing Michael Jordan for the most blocks by a guard in NBA history.

Jordan still holds the regular season block shot record by a guard with 893. Wade currently has 877 blocks in the regular season. 

Wade has blocked 449 players in his career, including Joe Johnson and Ben Gordon 12 times each.

ESPN

Tags: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Pat Riley Aiming To Sign 2 Max Free Agents In 2020

Mar 1, 2019 1:42 AM

Pat Riley says that the Miami Heat plan to add two big name free agents during the 2020 offseason.

"We’ve done this four times now, had a good group of players, young players, and then either through free agency or through trade brought the superstar in. In 2020, we’ll have a lot of room. We’ll also have the possibility to have enough room to go after two max contracts. And we’re going to do that. So, we’re planning that 2020 will be the room year," said Riley.

Riley added that he feels the Heat are just a couple players away from being a special team due to their young foundation.

"We’re chasing a playoff spot when we’re young. And then we’re going to be chasing some players that can come in. If we can get one or two players to come in with this group, this young group, then I think the sky’s the limit for this team in the next couple years."

NBA.com

Tags: Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor

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