What Makes Dwyane Wade Miami's GOAT is What Fuels His Success in Retirement
Dwyane Wade on his book tour is showing the humility and charisma that endeared him to a generation of South Florida sports fans.
There’s another way for Scottie Pippen. While the former Bulls great spends his days schlepping bourbon and rehashing old grudges with Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade’s recent media blitz on the heels of his new memoir reflects his masterclass in handling a post-playing career with grace. Maybe Wade should also write the book on how NBA players ought to handle retirement, and maybe Pippen should be first in line to read it.
Nearly three years after retiring from the Miami Heat, Wade has transcended the game of basketball. He’s a pop-culture standard, game-show host, LGBTQ advocate and an author of “Dwyane,” his new photographic memoir. In it, Wade narrates a behind-the-scenes look at his 16-year career. As he promoted the book in a week that will crest Thursday with his arrival to FTX Arena for the Heat’s game against the Washington Wizards, Wade flashed the charisma and humility that made him one of Miami’s best success stories.
“I feel like we all have generational GOATs,” Wade told the Washington Post. “In my generation, [Michael Jordan] is my GOAT. It’s going to be Kobe [Bryant] and LeBron as the new generation’s GOATs, and that’s okay. It’s okay not to have one GOAT. Everyone doesn’t have to be on the same page.”
For Heat fans, Wade is the unquestioned GOAT. The 22-year-old from Robbins, Illinois showed up on the sands of Miami in 2003 and introduced to a generation of South Floridians what it meant to win with class. It wasn’t just the trophies. From the 2006 Finals, to Heatlemania, to falling from the scorer’s table, Wade grew up in front of us. He earned the respect of the sports world, pushed that reverence away and snatched it right back, all while staying true to who he is.
“What I love about Miami is just the way [it] protected us,” Wade told the Miami Herald. “They protected my family. They protected me. I had to grow up quickly in the public eye in front of everybody.”
At 39, with most of his retired peers punching up for relevancy, taking churnable jobs as talking heads or aching to relive glory days through lightly-televised games of 3 on 3, Wade is buttoning up business deals, elbowing his way into Napa Valley and Hollywood and laying the groundwork for a promising post-playing career.
When Wade returns Thursday night, it will be the first Heat game he has attended in Miami since he purchased an ownership stake in the Utah Jazz in April — a deal that got Heat fans in their feelings. Some were upset Wade reportedly turned down a similar deal offered by Heat owner Micky Arison, others were simply jealous Utah would benefit from Wade’s apparent golden touch. But Wade’s explanation for his decision underscores all that endeared him to Heat fans in the first place.
“Just like Micky, just like their family, you try to make your business decisions based on what’s best for you business-wise,” Wade told the “Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” this week. “And the personal side of me, yeah, I love Miami. I’m connected to it, my heart is there forever. But the business side of me, my relationship with [Jazz owner] Ryan Smith and my opportunity for growth here on this side of the world… it was something I wanted to do.”
This is Wade, blazing a new trail for himself just as he did from Robbins to Marquette to Miami. From 2006 Finals MVP to teaming up with LeBron James and Chris Bosh. To Cleveland and Chicago to Miami again. From winning custody of his children to marriage with Gabrielle Union. From the father of Zion to the father of Zaya. Every turn met with skeptics and critics, each one expanding his reach beyond the hardwood.
Wade bought into the Jazz because he believes in Smith’s commitment to social efforts. Since Smith took over control of the Jazz, the team began wearing on their uniforms patches for the “5 for the Fight” campaign that has raised more than $30 million for cancer research. The Jazz have also provided scholarships for children in need and, with Wade, plan to advance racial, social and LGBTQ issues in the Utah community.
That’s not to say Wade couldn’t have done the same work in Miami and, it should be noted, Salt Lake City’s proximity to his new home in Southern California was certainly a factor. But he has already conquered South Florida, and he’s seeking growth beyond Wade County. Perhaps the most telling thing Wade said during his book tour came later in his interview with Le Batard.
“My 16-year career, and everything I did in Miami,” he continued, “I kind of wanted to leave it as it is.”
He’s right. Those 16 years deserve to be in a time capsule, preserved from corruption. It would have been easy for Wade to throw his weight around and bask in the celebrity he’s earned here. Instead, he made his post-playing decision with familiar humility and poise.
Make no mistake, D-Wade cherishes his experience in Miami as much as those who cheered for him. As Wade sits courtside Thursday and watches Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro run with his baton, those on the West Coast can only wait to learn what the fans in the stands already know about Miami’s best.
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