Dwyane Wade is dedicating his return the Heat and the rest of this season to a slain 17-year-old, who was buried last week while wearing a Wade No. 3 Heat jersey.
Joaquin Oliver was one of the 17 victims from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on Feb. 14. His parents said on Univision talk show “Al Punto” that Oliver was buried Feb. 17 while wearing a Wade No. 3 Heat jersey.
Wade, who returned to the Heat six days before the shooting after one full season with the Bulls and a short stint with the Cavaliers, first responded to the news of Oliver being buried in his jersey on Twitter Sunday.
“You’re about to make me cry this afternoon,” Wade wrote.
You’re about to make me cry this afternoon https://t.co/rWFsQcxlYc
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) February 25, 2018
Wade was still nearly speechless when asked about Oliver after Monday’s practice.
“You really can’t put that in words,” Wade told reporters. “You hurt for the family and if you’re able to get an opportunity to speak to them, you just try to hope that the time where he was alive, that you were able to bring some form of joy to his life and something memorable, a story that you guys can talk about.
“I don’t even know the word for it. Like I re-tweeted on Twitter, I said, ‘You’re going to make me cry.’ It’s emotional even thinking about that, that his parents felt that burying him in my jersey is something that he wanted. I take a lot of pride in what I’ve done in this state and what I’ve meant for the youth, so I appreciate that.”
Monday evening, Wade returned to Twitter and wrote that senseless gun violence is a reason he won’t “just shut up and dribble.” His comment is a direct response to a Fox News host, who told LeBron James and Kevin Durant to do just that two weeks ago.
“Joaquin was one of many that I heard was excited about my return to Miami and yesterday was buried in my jersey,” Wade wrote. “This is why we will not just SHUT up and dribble.”
In another tweet, Wade continued: “It’s way BIGGER than basketball. We are the voices for the people that don’t get to be heard. Joaquin Oliver may you Rest In Peace and I dedicate my return and the rest of this Miami Heat season to you.”
This is Joaquin Oliver. He was one of the 17 young lives that were lost tragically at Douglas HighSchool in Parkland. Joaquin was one of many that i heard was excited about my return to Miami and yesterday was buried in my jersey. This is why we will not just SHUT up and dribble! pic.twitter.com/X0tfTTao33
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) February 26, 2018
It’s way BIGGER than basketball. We are the voices for the people that don’t get to be heard. Joaquin Oliver may you Rest In Peace and i dedicate my return and the rest of this Miami Heat season to you. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) February 26, 2018
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