USA - Wade season in doubt after shoulder injury

MIAMI (NBA) - The Miami Heat are anxiously awaiting news on Dwyane Wade after the Team USA guard suffered a dislocated shoulder on Wednesday night.

With the team in Dallas for Thursday’s night game - a 112-100 loss to the Mavericks - Wade returned to South Florida for further tests amid concerns he could miss up to six weeks.

Wade is considering his treatment options before deciding on what action to take. Season-ending surgery has not been ruled out.

"Wade is presently weighing his treatment options provided to him by the Heat medical staff," the team said in a statement.

"Wade still needs to discuss these options with his family and Heat president and head coach Pat Riley, and will then decide what course of action to take."

Riley said he had no indication what Wade’s decision might be.

“I don't have any anticipation,” he said before the Dallas game.

"I wrote him a letter today - FedExed it, because his mailbox was loaded on his phone."

Wade, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Miami’s 112-102 road loss the Houston Rockets. The All-Star collided awkwardly with Houston's Shane Battier and immediately began grimacing in pain.

Wade had to be helped from the court in a wheelchair before immediately being taken to hospital.

Wade's injury overshadowed the return of Heat coach Pat Riley, who was back on the sideline Wednesday after taking a 22-game leave of absence to have surgery on his knee and hip.

With Riley out of the picture and All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal sidelined for over two months with a knee injury, Wade has been the glue for the Heat this season, leading the team in virtually every statistical category while keeping the defending champions within striking distance of a Southeast Division title.

The 6ft 5in Wade had been enjoying his finest season yet in the NBA, scoring a career-high 28.8 points while hauling in 4.8 rebounds and dishing out 7.9 assists - also a career best.

The NBA's third-leading scorer, Wade is the latest member of the Heat to suffer a long-term injury.

O'Neal missed 39 games from mid-November to late January and has hit his stride only recently. Point guard Jason Williams has been sidelined several times this season and has missed a total of 20 games while dealing with knee and ankle ailments.

Ian Parker
FIBA