CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 27: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Chicago Bulls reacts to a three point shot late in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics at the United Center on October 27, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

It still seems strange to see Dwyane Wade playing an NBA basketball game in anything but a Miami Heat jersey. But Wade made his Chicago Bulls debut Thursday night and many believed that Wade’s return home to his hometown was forced by the Miami Heat and Pat Riley’s unwillingness to pony up serious cash for the veteran player.

Wade could easily be bitter about the Heat’s refusal to re-sign him. But as the new season begins, Wade says he holds no anger towards the team or executive Pat Riley.

“I’m not here because I’m angry at [Pat Riley] or the Heat,” Wade told The Vertical’s Sham Charania. “There’s no anger. I’m happy because I got the freedom to look elsewhere. I got to look at home.”

That return home included a two-year contract that netted him a cool $47 million, by the way.

Wade’s tenure with the Bulls got off to an amazing start, with Wade hitting a dagger three-pointer in Chicago’s season opener.

Following his 22-point night, one that included a rare four made three-pointers, Wade made it clear that he isn’t motivated by anything that happened this offseason, but rather by being great for the team he is currently a part of.

“I can’t focus over there anymore,” Wade added. “I want those guys in Miami to be successful, but I’m motivated by greatness here. I’m motivated by doing what people think I can’t do, for sure. I had to make a decision, and I feel good about the decision I made.”

The start to his Chicago Bulls career certainly should make him feel happy. The question is whether or not Wade can lead a championship-starved franchise back to the promised land.

Imagine that storyline playing out come June of 2017, especially after the Cubs just went to the World Series and the Blackhawks still standing at the top of the NHL food chain.

Let’s just say Chicago may not be able to handle all of that success at one time. Then again, we are also just a few games into a very long NBA season and there are likely to be lots of twists and turns ahead for Wade and the Bulls.

[The Vertical]

About Andrew Coppens

Andy is a contributor to The Comeback as well as Publisher of Big Ten site talking10. He also is a member of the FWAA and has been covering college sports since 2011. Andy is an avid soccer fan and runs the Celtic FC site The Celtic Bhoys. If he's not writing about sports, you can find him enjoying them in front of the TV with a good beer!