Celtics’ Ainge presents Wade with Garden parquet
Celtics president Danny Ainge presents Dwyane Wade with a piece of the 2008 TD Garden floor and forgives him for messing up Rajon Rondo’s elbow. (0:46)
Celtics president Danny Ainge presented Dwyane Wade with a plaque featuring a photo and a piece of the TD Garden parquet floor from 2008 on Monday to commemorate his retirement.
Ainge met Wade in a TD Garden hallway before the Celtics hosted the Heat in Wade’s final regular-season game in Boston.
“Thank you for your amazing career and inspiration. We’ve all benefited from it,” Ainge told Wade in front of a group of media. “You’ve been a remarkable player. We’ve had some good battles.”
“Yes, we have,” Wade said.
Ainge then took a not-too-subtle jab at Wade, bringing up an incident from the 2011 playoffs in which Wade and Rajon Rondo became tangled and Rondo came away with a dislocated elbow. Rondo later said Wade was a dirty player.
“I now forgive you for messing up Rondo’s elbow,” Ainge said.
Kyrie Irving had 25 points, including a pair of key late free throws, and the Boston Celtics held off the Miami Heat 110-105 on Monday night.
Wade finished the game, a 110-105 loss, with 17 points and seven assists in 29 minutes off the bench.
“Like we talked about out there, we’ve had so many battles,” Wade said after the game. “I appreciate the respect they showed me as a player. I appreciate the respect of them to present me with a plaque, representing the history of Boston. That was so cool. I definitely didn’t expect it at all. I appreciate that gesture.”
The outpouring of appreciation was mutual and extended to Celtics forward Marcus Morris.
“Playing against D-Wade these last few years and watching him as I grew up — he’s everything,” Morris said. “He’s been a veteran. He did a lot for the NBA. I’m happy that he’s going out on his own terms, and this is big-time, being able to play against him on his way out.”