Wade doesn't regret decision to retire, could've played 'another 2-3 years'

Like Frank Sinatra, Dwyane Wade is doing it his way.

With nine regular-season games left in his NBA career - and the playoffs not yet guaranteed - the Miami Heat cornerstone feels he could keep playing, but doesn't want to.

"I know I can play a solid two more years, especially in this role that I'm in now," Wade told The Athletic's Shams Charania. "I can play another two, three years, definitely."

While Wade's explosiveness has been in decline for some time, the 37-year-old has had his moments as Miami's sixth man this season. He's averaging 14.3 points and shooting a career-high 32.7 percent - on a near career-high 3.3 attempts per game - from deep.

"People around me want me to keep playing," Wade added. "But I made the decision to say this was my last season and I wanted to walk away the way I'm walking away now and have no regrets about it ... people want you to keep going for selfish reasons. No one knows what you're dealing with. I've always had support from people around me. Even now, you hear from people. Everyone wanting you to keep playing. But you have to understand yourself, understand your body."

Going into Monday, Miami sits one game ahead of the Orlando Magic in the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Four of the Heat's last nine games come at home, including Tuesday's tilt with those Magic. A Miami loss would cede the season tiebreaker to Orlando. Wade's former teammate Chris Bosh will have his jersey retired at halftime.