Dwyane Wade has said that he blames an operation that he had in college for his ongoing knee problems.

The Miami Heat guard had surgery to remove his meniscus in 2002, and has since had bone bruises and tendinitis in the same knee.

The 31-year-old told ESPN: "My knee problems and the things I've dealt with started from that. That was [11] years ago and technology was different and the way you approach things was different.

"At that moment, if everyone looked ahead and said, 'Dwyane's going to have a 20-year career, maybe we should do something different,' maybe I wouldn't have [knee issues]. At that time it was to get me back on the basketball court and do what is best.

"We have a great training staff and we have great doctors. Whatever way you look at it, I'm going into my 11th season, there's lots of guys who haven't made it this far."

Wade averaged 21.2 points per game last season.