Dwyane Wade is Getting a Statue

Mark your calendars, Heat fans, Dwyane Wade is about to be immortalized in bronze. The Miami Heat are unveiling a statue of Wade outside the Kaseya Center on October 27. If you didn’t know, now you do, this statue will honor the greatest player in Heat history, and if you disagree, well, you might need to have a chat with Pat Riley.

Wade will be there, of course, along with Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, team owner Micky Arison, and Rick Ross. Yes, that Rick Ross, the local hip-hop legend. And the best part? It’s free! (But get your tickets quick because capacity is limited, and you know Heat Nation doesn’t miss out on moments like this.)

The festivities don’t stop there. On October 28, exactly 21 years after Wade’s NBA debut, the Heat will celebrate Dwyane Wade Statue Night during their game against the Detroit Pistons. Wade's three championships with the Heat (2006, 2012, 2013), plus his 2023 Hall of Fame induction, have solidified him as a franchise legend, and now he’s got the statue to prove it.

A Sudden Turn in a Promising Career

In some unexpected news, AJ Griffin, one of the more talented players selected in the 2022 NBA Draft, might be calling it quits after just two seasons. The 21-year-old, who was drafted 16th overall by the Atlanta Hawks, is reportedly considering stepping away from basketball.

Griffin came into the league with serious potential. After an impressive rookie season where he averaged 8.9 points per game while shooting nearly 40% from three, it seemed like he was set to make a big leap in year two. But an untimely injury derailed that plan, and he struggled in limited action during the 2023 season, managing only 2.4 points per game on 29% shooting. The Hawks eventually traded him to the Rockets, and now, rumors suggest Griffin may be thinking about hanging up his sneakers for good.

It’s tough to see a young talent like Griffin potentially walk away before his career truly takes off. The Rockets are already prepping for his potential exit and may dive into the free-agent market to fill the gap. Retirement at 21 is wild, but Griffin might just have other plans for his future outside of basketball.

Tatum’s NBA Finals Forecast

Jayson Tatum is feeling confident, really confident. During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the Boston Celtics superstar didn’t just predict that his team would be in the NBA Finals next season, he also predicted a rematch with Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks. Tatum coolly stated, “The Boston Celtics… it’s gonna be a rematch, we gonna play Dallas again.”

Boston took down Dallas in a Gentleman’s Sweep, winning 4-1 in the Finals. While the Mavs boast an offense powered by Luka’s brilliance and Kyrie’s unpredictable magic, their defense just couldn’t hang with Boston’s offensive firepower. Adding Klay Thompson to the mix helps, but even with Klay’s elite 3&D skills, he’s not exactly in his prime Warriors form anymore. He’ll provide more shooting and defense, which should help cover some of Luka’s defensive weaknesses, but it might still feel like bringing a water gun to a firehose fight.

Meanwhile, the Celtics have done what great teams do, they got better. The addition of rookie Baylor Scheierman gives them a fresh bench piece, and with their perfect blend of offensive firepower and lockdown defense, the Celtics look like they’re poised to dominate again.

Sure, anything can happen in the NBA, but right now, Tatum’s prediction seems like a safe bet. Boston has built a team that’s tough to beat on both sides of the ball, and right now, no team looks ready to measure up.

Sabrina Ionescu Leads Liberty to Fifth Straight Win in Dominant Fashion

The New York Liberty are on fire. Sabrina Ionescu dropped 20 points, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 17 as the Liberty steamrolled the Dallas Wings, 99-67, for their fifth straight victory.

Laney-Hamilton also came through, sinking three 3-pointers and grabbing six rebounds, while Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot added 11 points each. Even off the bench, Leonie Fiebich chipped in nine points to keep the momentum going. The Liberty (31-6) have the best record in the league and seem to be firing on all cylinders as they make a serious push toward the playoffs.

As for the Dallas Wings (9-28), it was a tough night. Arike Ogunbowale and Maddy Siegrist each put up 11 points, but it wasn’t nearly enough to stop New York’s high-flying offense. Dallas has now dropped six games in a row, and it looks like their season is spiraling as we head toward the finish line.

The Liberty have just three games left, and if they win them all, they’ll tie the Las Vegas Aces' record-setting 34-6 mark from last season. That record could be in serious jeopardy with the way New York’s playing right now.

WNBA Playoffs

Final Week Chaos Is Here

The final week of the 2024 WNBA regular season is here, and the playoff race is heating up! Seven teams have already punched their tickets to the postseason, but the eighth and final spot is still up for grabs. It’s a three-way battle between Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington, and none of them are backing down.

Here’s where it gets fun: no one is locked into a playoff seed yet, not even the Liberty, who have been flexing all season. Despite having 30 wins, they haven’t secured the top seed just yet, so there’s still a lot of shuffling to be done.

The regular season wraps up on September 19, with the playoffs tipping off on September 22. Expect a lot of nail-biting and scoreboard-watching as teams jostle for position. With everything still up in the air, every game counts.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading.

We’ll see you Monday!

— The Players Unlimited Team