Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade opts out of NBA All-Star Game

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade announced Tuesday that he would not participate in the NBA All-Star Game in New York this weekend because of a hamstring injury.

Wade, 33, has missed 16 games this season while battling a variety of injuries, most recently a hamstring which has caused him to miss the last six games. He is also expected to sit out Wednesday’s contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers before the All-Star break.

“I felt like this was best,” Wade said, according to the Associated Press. “I wasn’t going to play much either way. I think with the circumstances, I think the smartest thing to do is let someone else come in and really enjoy the All-Star experience.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver later revealed that Atlanta guard Kyle Korver will serve as Wade’s replacement in the All-Star Game, joining his Eastern Conference-leading Hawks teammates, guard Jeff Teague and forwards Paul Millsap and Al Horford.

Other replacements for the All-Star game include Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard as a substitute for Clippers forward Blake Griffin and Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins to take the place of Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.

Wade has made 11 All-Star teams, with seven starting nods, over the course of his 11-year career. In 2010, he was named the game’s most valuable player.

“I think I owe it to the Heat fans to at least play in a Heat jersey first than go out there in the All-Star Game and play a couple minutes,” Wade said.

The Heat (22-29) hold a one-game lead over the Brooklyn Nets (21-30) for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with 31 games left to play.

“It’s going to be an interesting second half of the season for us, because we’ve got something to play for,” Wade said. “We’ll see how we respond.”

Miami has made the playoffs evey year since the 2002-03 season and has won three titles (2006, 2012, 2013) during that stretch.

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