Dwyane Wade Thinks This Entire Season Is A Long Episode Of Punk'd

Miami, FL. (Feb. 24) - Friends of Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade say that the NBA superstar is convinced that this season is simply a drawn-out practical joke for an upcoming "Punk'd" special to air this spring.

"He's just waiting for Ashton Kutcher or one of the members from Outkast to yell out, 'PUNK'D!' as soon as the buzzer goes off at the end of the last game of the season," one friend told reporters. "He keeps saying there's no other explanation for it."

"Punk'd", an MTV show, would place celebrities in practical joke situations, often in full view of the public. The final episode aired in May 2007, but Wade thinks MTV is reviving the show for a special hour-long version to air sometimes after the NBA Finals.

Wade's Miami Heat are 9-44 and have lost 26 out of their last 27 games. Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns a couple weeks ago, a move that Wade says is simply part of MTV's storyline.

"Here's the deal: Dwyane thinks the season will end, he'll be Punk'd, then Shaq will return to the Heat next season," another friend disclosed. "He thinks coach Pat Riley, the fans, his teammates, the league, and every athlete in every sport and every recording artist of all genres are in on the prank."

Wade, the friends report, keeps saying things like, "Aww, man -- this is a GOOD one!," whenever the Heat lose another game, despite him pouring in dozens of points every night.

"Last week, after yet another loss, Dwyane kept going up to teammates and saying, 'Y'all got me good.' Of course, they had no idea what he was talking about -- which just fueled his belief that they were just putting on."

When the Shaq trade was announced, Wade told friends that it "was obvious that MTV will stop at nothing" to propagate the prank.

"They traded Shaq? Man, they're SERIOUS at 'Punk'd'. This is dope," Wade was quoted as saying.

Wade is eager to finish the season and hug Kutcher and the other co-conspirators, then take everyone out for "a real expensive dinner", at which Wade is expected to reveal that he became aware of the prank "months ago" -- hoping to get the last laugh.