Dwyane Wade’s season is now officially over.

The veteran star will not play another game for the Chicago Bulls this season after an MRI revealed a sprain and a small fracture in his elbow. While the injury will not require surgery to repair, it will be enough to keep him out for the rest of the regular season.

Wade injured his elbow in a game Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzles. Although he attempted to play through the pain, Wade was given a rest for the remainder of the game in the fourth quarter and did not return to the court.

“It sucks,” Wade said to reporters on Thursday. “It’s not the way I would’ve written it. But it is what it is.”

The Bulls are currently 32-36 this season and sitting three games behind the Detroit Pistons for the final playoff spot in the East. The Bulls also have to leapfrog Wade’s previous team, the Miami Heat, in the Eastern Conference to get into playoff position. With Wade no longer on the court, it may be best to start focusing on a different path: trying to get as many draft lottery ping pong balls as the Bulls possibly can.

As for Wade, will this be his only season in his hometown?

That’s a ton of money, but is it worth it to play one of your last years with a team not likely to be going anywhere?

That’s going to be a very tough call for Wade.

[Chicago Tribune]

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.