Wade: 'Love is always there' for Heat despite joining Jazz ownership

Dwyane Wade may be a minority owner of the Utah Jazz now, but the Miami Heat still hold a special place in his heart.

Wade told Tyler R. Tynes of GQ that while some Heat fans may feel he abandoned the organization, the former guard couldn't pass on the opportunity to purchase an ownership stake in the Jazz.

"As an athlete, you get it. But, the only thing you can do is live your life and do things for you and your family. And one thing I did for Miami in my 14-and-a-half-year career is give them all I had," Wade said. "They continue to embrace me and my family even though we are not living in that zip code. The love is always there for me, and I think it's always gonna be there from the fans. We experienced something real together and it’s gonna last all of us a lifetime.

"... But I'm not just one person to stay in one place. I'm a butterfly, man. And I gotta fly. I gotta move. I gotta go. So, this is just the next step in my journey. But, all love to Miami. All love."

Wade noted that he's been friends with Jazz majority owner and governor Ryan Smith for a while and feels this is a good fit.

"I haven't seen many instances when someone plays for an organization or franchise, is great, and then goes into ownership," he said. "Michael Jordan is not in Chicago. Shaq is not with the Lakers. Grant Hill is not with Atlanta and so on and so forth. So, you know what, once you retire and you aren't a player anymore, it's about business. And you have to put yourself in a situation for the best business opportunity for you and your family. And Utah was that for me."

Wade spent 15 of his 17 NBA seasons playing in Miami, where he won three championships. The Heat retired his No. 3 jersey last year.