Since Dwyane Wade was drafted in 2003, Miami has arguably been a basketball town.
The Miami Dolphins have had just three 10-win seasons over that span (2003, 2008 and 2016), while the Miami Heat have won three NBA Finals (2006, 2012 and 2013).
The Dolphins have made the playoffs just twice since 2003, compared to 13 times for the Heat (including this season).
According to Wade, that could all change with the arrival of Tua Tagovailoa.
"I had a conversation with Dwyane Wade about Tua, and he said this [Miami] is a Dolphins town. …He feels like if Tua can win, then he can easily become the next face of South Florida sports." — @CameronWolfe discusses Tua Tagovailoa
Full episode 👉 https://t.co/ZWYFGNxNzn pic.twitter.com/OVqmEiKOrN
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 3, 2020
With Wade retiring in 2019, the torch is certainly ready to be passed.
Current Heat players Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo can make a case it belongs to them, but the former Alabama quarterback has a great chance to snatch it.
Tagovailoa, 22, threw 87 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 32 career games for the Crimson Tide.
Led by Tagovailoa in his freshman season, Alabama won the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. The team returned to the game in his sophomore season before falling to Clemson.
If he can sustain that success in South Beach, he will surely take over the town.
Wade is just the latest former athlete or general manager to praise Tagovailoa.
Former NFL general manager Charley Casserly, former Dolphins tight end Joe Rose and former NFL quarterback Michael Vick have all lauded Tagovailoa in recent days.
Tagovailoa’s first chance to see the field will come in the preseason on Aug. 14 vs. the Atlanta Falcons.
His first potential regular season snaps could come in Week 1 vs. the New England Patriots on Sept. 13.
