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Passing The Torch – Dwyane Wade And Donovan Mitchell’s Special Moment

For many in the NBA world, Donovan Mitchell is seen as Dwyane Wade’s successor. Wade, who will retire after the season, has helped building that comparison himsef. But we need to go back in time first.

A couple of years ago, Mitchell was a huge fan of LeBron James and was watching him closely. He didn’t know in what direction he should develop his game, so trying to model it after the then-Heat star was the best idea he had. Now he understands that he should have closely watched another star in a Miami Heat jersey, Dwyane Wade.

“I didn’t really know how I should model my game. I didn’t understand the game well enough to know that he was a guy I should be looking at. I come into the league and he’s the guy I’m watching the most on film,”

 

Then, this past summer, and after an incredible rookie season, Wade invited Mitchell to train with him. Mitchell has learned a lot from that experience.

“That was incredible. I learned a lot from him.”

Last night, the two face-off against each other in a close and hard-fought game. But even though the game did not end the way Donovan Mitchell wanted, it turned out to be a special night for him. Wade and Mitchell traded jerseys after the game.

“To be honest with you, that was surreal. You can’t really think about it in the game but to look back at it, you’re playing against your idol essentially. I talked to him many times this summer about his career, his habits off the floor. That was a special moment.”

Big respect, @dwyanewade ❤️#ThisIsWhyWePlay | #OneLastDance https://t.co/vU5aBrUpG7

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 3, 2018

Dwyane Wade also had so nice words for Mitchell after the game and was impressed by him when he reached out to him this past summer.

"He's special."@DwyaneWade shares the story when @spidadmitchell reached out to him this past summer to pick his brain. pic.twitter.com/8mETnNi2Hm

— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 3, 2018