For the last 13 years the Miami Heat has usually gone about it's business at home the same way: Dwyane Wade's locker has been the center of the universe for reporters before and after games, and he's always been the last player introduced to the home crowd.
Tuesday night, the first time the Heat played at home since Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Toronto, was the first time in 13 years Wade wasn't around to be in his usual spots.
And it was freaking weird.
"As soon as I came back from Europe I looked around and saw Beno Udrih tag's over there -- I said, OK?" point guard Goran Dragic said when asked if it felt weird not to see Wade in the Heat locker room.
For 13 years this corner of the #Heat locker room belonged to @DwyaneWade Now it doesn't. pic.twitter.com/vDNRiU7KzY
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) October 11, 2016
Where it really felt weird for Dragic on Tuesday was "before the game and during the game, on the floor."
While Udrih took Wade's spot in the locker room, Dragic replaced Wade in the player introductions, having his name called last.
"I don't care about that," Dragic said before breaking out into laughter. "For me they can change it and put Whitey [Hassan Whiteside] last. I can go first so I don't sit too much on the bench. Then, I would feel better."
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