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Dwyane Wade on Leaving Basketball Behind and the True Story of the Big Three

By Clay Skipper

Dwyane Wade played in 13 NBA All-Star games in his 16-season career. But this past Tuesday, in New York, he was fresh off his first ever All-Star game as a former NBA player. He retired last season, but returned to Chicago this past weekend as a TNT analyst and a judge for Saturday night’s slam dunk contest. Which begs the question: after a weekend of watching the best players in the NBA do the job he left last year, does he still think he could hang?

“Absolutely not,” he says. “I’m not in basketball shape no more.”

Okay, but obviously he still plays… right?

“I don’t,” he says. “I thought I would. I was like, ‘I'll still hoop, I'll still play.’ I don't really have time.”

Though his playing days are already behind him, this weekend represents something of a final farewell for D-Wade, after what has been a rather long retirement tour for the revered Miami Heat vet. The Heat are planning a multi-night celebration that will include retiring the #3 jersey of its all-time leading scorer (not to mention all-time Heat hero, having delivered an NBA title in 2006, and then Chris Bosh and LeBron James in 2010, and then two more championships in 2012 and 2013). On Sunday, there will be a screening of “ D.Wade Life Unexpected ,” a documentary chronicling Wade’s life and career—from a disruptive upbringing in Chicago, through his unexpected rise to NBA superstardom, his contentious divorce and custody battle for his children, his marriage to Gabrielle Union, his support for his daughter Zaya's gender identity, all the way to his final season and year-long sunset with the Miami Heat.

Though he says the basketball tank is empty and he doesn’t have “any look-back in me,” Wade got reflective about his hall-of-fame career and a post-NBA life that’s only just beginning.

I'm curious when you first knew you could play at a level different from everyone around you. My entire childhood, I always played at a higher level. When I reached high school, I played on the sophomore level my first year. And then my sophomore year, I went up to varsity. But they were very good and I wouldn't get time. I asked my coach, "Can I go back and play with my friends, because I'm on the bench?" When I went down to play with the sophomores, I was like, "Okay, this is easy. This is so easy.” So I always knew I was better than the age group I was in, and even as good as the ones that were older than me.

Did that confidence change how you played your game? 100%. It just helps. Going to college, I realized very early that I was just as good as anybody in the gym. I knew: I’m raw, and I've got a lot to learn, but I'm just as good—I won't say better because I don't want to disrespect the seniors—as anybody in the gym my freshman year. The world didn't know, but I knew it.

There's a moment early in the documentary when you move from your dad’s house to live with your high school girlfriend and her mom. And you say that staying where you were was not going to get you to where you needed to be. At what age did you decide “This is what I want for my life?” I knew at nine years old, when I watched the Chicago Bulls win their first championship in 1991. I knew what I wanted. That feeling that our family felt, that feeling the city of Chicago felt—that pride and my enjoyment of the game—I knew I wanted to do that. Now how do I get there? I didn't know how to do that. But you know how some people who are a part of an investment group know how to get out at the right time? You're like, "Dang, they just, they got out before it went under.” I've always been able to see that and be like, "Okay, it's time."

When I was in my dad's house at 16, it was just a toxic environment. I knew it was time for me to go because I needed to focus on me, and the home structure wasn't allowing that. I needed to be selfish. My girlfriend’s house allowed me to do that, because it was just her and her mother.

But along that journey, I had to grow up a little too fast, too, so I missed certain things. It wasn't all good. I got out there and put my life in the hands of another family and not my family. So there were times out there where I got taken advantage of, because I didn't know—or no one had my back, necessarily. But I learned from it all.

Did you have that same feeling when you chose to retire? Yeah. It was time for me to go.

Was there a moment? It wasn't even the basketball part of it. "Oh my God, I can't compete with these guys, I got to go." I could still compete now—and I'm not saying it in a cocky way. I know I could still play if I wanted to. If I kept my body right. But I just woke up one day and I knew that it was time, and things happen in your life to give you that vision.

At the end of my Chicago run, I remember going to see my agent for the last time because he couldn't travel. [ Wade played with the Chicago Bulls for the 2016-17 season. His agent, Hank Thomas, was based in Chicago and died of a neuromuscular disease in January 2018 .] And the only way I was able to see him was because of my last season. If I didn't go to Chicago, I would have never seen him the last year. At that moment, my outlook started to change. [I realized] the importance of the moments you share with the people you love. Basketball takes you away from all of those moments.

I went to Cleveland [in 2017-18] and I started coming off the bench, and I was like, "This ain't it no more. I'm not really having fun. I'm just doing it because my contract says I needed to do it and because this is what I know." Then I got traded to Miami and I was like, "Okay, I'm back here for a reason.” And then, we got to the playoffs and I just started feeling like this is it: “I don't want to go through the season, I don't want to go through this grind. I don't want to be away from my home for two weeks. I'm tired of the same hotel. I’m tired of the same food. I’m tired of everything. I'm done."

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Someone always told me when you feel like you're ready to retire, play another season. And even though I didn't want to, I ended up playing another year and that really let me get it all out. So I really don't have any look-back in me for basketball.

How has that helped the transition, then? The tank is empty. And even though you say, "Oh, you still could play a little bit," the mental tank was empty a long time ago. The physical tank is the love, the heartbeat of the game. That's still there. But everything else around it is gone. I remember when Kobe wrote that letter to the game of basketball on his way out. He talked about how his heart can take it, but his body couldn't anymore. My body was tired. It's tired, and I have nothing else to prove. I'm not making 20, 30 million no more, on my last year I was on a minimum. So I was like, let me go do something else. Let me go be present. Let me go create something else.

When you say present, you mean present in those family moments? Yeah, my family moments that I talk about in the doc a little bit. My daughter [ Kaavia James Union Wade ] was my push. I came into the NBA and [my oldest son] Zaire was roughly the same age that my daughter is now. Zaire's 18 now, right? 17 years ago I came into the NBA. And now my daughter's 15 months—it’s like roughly the same age . I came in with a little one and that was my purpose and that was my why. And I went out with a little one and that was my purpose and that was my why to leave the game.

Zaire was born when you were still young and at Marquette, and you played incredibly that year after he was born. Then you went through a contentious custody battle when you were playing some of the best basketball of your career on the Heat. The way the documentary juxtaposes those things suggest the off court happenings are linked to the on-court performance. How much of a link do you think there actually was? It's always been my sanctuary, and at that moment it became even more of my outlet. Going through a very public divorce, a very public, messy, custody battle, you just want to get it out. You need to get that anger out. So I turned into that beast on the court. I took it out on my opponents. Because I didn't publicly talk about it a lot. The plan of the game was the part that allowed me to yell and scream. I wanted to do it at home. But I did it on the court.

In 2006 when you won the championship, did that feel like the ending of something or the beginning of something ? It felt like the ending of losing. I always got there. I never quite could pull in: AAU, Final Four, high school—never could win one. So I finally got over that hurdle. But it was a brand new beginning of my life —or my new life. After we won a championship, my old life left. And it was a whole different journey after that. And it still is.

It’s like the shedding of a weight, but then you take on a whole host of new problems. Right! It's like, “Ahhh, okay,” you get to take that deep breath, but then you got to go right back to work. And then the expectations really started. Now you've set a standard for yourself and got to live up to that standard every time you step out on the floor. Now that you are this great player and now that you've won a championship and you’re Finals MVP, and a standard’s set, I need to see that player every night.

What lessons did you learn from Shaq? The greatest thing he did for me was show me who I was destined to be. I used to be very quiet. He made me think about marketing myself, and he built this Flash character in me. I jumped into this character. When I'm home I'm Dad, I'm Dwyane. But on the court, I'm Flash. So he helped me really find my destiny in the game of basketball and find myself, away from it.

I know Pat Riley likes to write cards to players, little messages on index cards, right? Yeah. These blue cards.

What's one of the more memorable cards you remember him writing to you? Every summer he’d write this letter, a couple of months before the season started, I remember getting these letters from him all the time about, "When you come back, I want you at 217 pounds, I need you with a 6% body fat." He always wrote it down and I'd look at it and it was like… [ mimes crumpling it up and throwing it over his shoulder ]. [ laughs ] But he is a writer and it's funny because I'm very similar to that. I use my notes [app] on my phone, I'm the same way. I got to write everything down. And that's how he is. He’s a got-to-write-everything-down type of person. So he always carries those index cards.

In the doc, you talk about how you, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh agreed to play on the same team, but that he then went radio silent on you in the days leading up to The Decision. What was your interaction after that? If that was my friend, I’d be like, “What the fuck, man? I know you had a TV special, but text me back!” After he made the decision, we didn't talk about it no more. This might be the first time anybody ever heard about it when the doc comes out, because we didn't talk about it no more. We were just excited that he came.

Really? Nothing? No. I understood that his decision was harder than mine and Chris's decision. I just wanted to make sure that we were still going as planned.

That's what I mean! You guys had decided to play together and then he ghosts on you. I was just like, "Okay, well, me and Chris Bosh are together. That's good.” [ laughs ] And if LeBron don't come, we still got some money for someone else. I just started playing that in my mind. But I'm glad that I was able to share that in that documentary because there’s this conversation out there that we had this team planned years before, and this gives you real footage of the moment of me being just as anxious and nervous as anybody else probably watching The Decision, hoping he comes to your team. So I'm glad we got that footage.

Because people generally think you hatched this plan at the ‘08 Olympics. Listen, I appreciate them giving us credit for being that damn smart. I'm thankful for it, and being a visionary like that.

When did it actually happen? The convo you guys had, the three of you agreeing to play together? I don't remember when the first one happened, but I think the documentary talks about the one on July 4th. I was in South Carolina. My wife was shooting a pilot out there and we were about to do a whole July 4th thing on the beach. I remember getting a text message from Bron about getting on the phone. So I go have this phone call, and this was a moment that we all decided.

I remember coming back and everybody looking at me because they know I just took an important call. You can tell when someone's on an important call. Everyone looking at me like I was going to tell them something, and I just waited. I told my wife, right before the fireworks. I was like, "Shit about to change.” [ laughs ] let her know that phone call, me, Bron, and Chris decided to play together.

What's something you know now that you wish maybe you'd known sooner in your career? Absolutely nothing. It’s what made this sweet: I had no idea how this was going to shake out. We can't celebrate the successes and take back the negatives. For me, it's a part of my journey and it might have sucked—the injuries sucked, the things I've dealt with away from the game—but all those things help build your character and helps build the person you become.

My career was unpredictable and unexpected. And it made it fun. And it doesn't mean that LeBron’s is not fun. But he was the chosen one for a long time. He's been great for a long time. And you’ve seen that he is going to be great as long as he stays healthy. No one saw my greatness coming. It just smacked them in the face. So I like my journey. I'll take everything that comes with it because it made the journey sweet.

This interview was edited and condensed.

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Featured Session: Icons of Impact: A Conversation with Dwyane Wade – Photo by Andy Wenstrand

Icons of Impact: A Conversation with Dwyane Wade [Video]

From nba legend to business mogul.

By Luis Seijo

Video Conference Featured Speakers

Building a hall of fame résumé in professional sports is one thing, but leaving that life behind and forging a new path toward entrepreneurial success is a different ball game. Dwyane Wade is widely known for his illustrious career with the Miami Heat, winning three NBA championships, recognized as one of the top 75 players of all time, and being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame . Aside from the accolades on the court, Wade has built and developed a portfolio of a variety of successful businesses.

Wade sat down at the 2024 SXSW Conference to give a glimpse into his business ventures and what helped spark the ideas for them. Proudly , a company co-founded by he and his wife Gabrielle Union-Wade , came about from the need for skincare and hair care products for their daughter, Kaavia James. Wade talks about the what he learned from raising a daughter with melanated skin and the things he learned in the process of being a dad.

"Most of the things we love in this world, they come out of a need. This need to be able to have one brand that focused on the needs of melanated skin was not something that was in the marketplace, surprisingly... and so the company started from that idea and out of an idea from our daughter, Kaavia James." - Dwyane Wade

Wade was joined by Inc's Tom Foster , where they discussed Wade Cellars , launching his first podcast The Why with Dwyane Wade , and more. Watch the full Featured Session, Icons of Impact: A Conversation with Dwyane Wade below.

Icons of Impact: A Conversation with Dwyane Wade

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Dwyane Wade on His New Photo Memoir and Life After Basketball

By Dan Adler

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Two years ago, Dwyane Wade had a retirement tour that he described at the time as “surreal,” bringing to a close a career that included three NBA titles and 13 all-star selections. After 16 often exhilarating seasons, his number three jersey was retired by the Miami Heat and the NBA named him one the 75 greatest players in its history.

Since then, Wade has bounded into several post-playing pursuits, from hosting a game show to providing TNT basketball commentary to purchasing a minority ownership stake in the Utah Jazz earlier this year. Still, he felt that his time as a player could use an additional summation. Wade’s new photo memoir, Dwyane , deals with recent history, tracing his long career through images. Many of them were taken by the photographer and filmmaker Bob Metelus, who has been capturing Wade for more than a decade and directed the 2020 documentary D. Wade: Life Unexpected . Wade remains close enough to the game that the book is structured like one—an idea, he said in an interview last week, that came from the writer Justin Tinsley, whom Wade worked on the book with.

Buy Dwyane on Amazon or Bookshop .

But Wade’s distance from his NBA career, however short, has provided an opportunity to examine how it was conducted. His time as a player overlapped with the rise of social media, and as a memoirist, he said he could further explore what it would mean to tell stories from his career in his own voice. And in his newest role with the Jazz, Wade said, he has been trying to modify how players and team owners work together. Below are condensed excerpts from the conversation.

Vanity Fair: When did you know that you wanted to put together this type of memoir?

Dwyane Wade: It goes back to my last season when I was trying to figure out how to retire. And I came up with three ideas. Everything for me always starts with three. The first idea was to announce that I was retiring, do a video, and tell everybody that I was just coming to their city one last time. Not thinking it was going to be a big deal, but just wanting to sleep in the same hotel one last time, eat at the restaurants I’ve been eating at all these years one last time. I wanted to do that. The second thing I wanted to do is I wanted to do a documentary. And I did it, Life Unexpected . I wanted to talk about my life and round up my career from a documentary standpoint. And then the third thing I wanted to do was this photographic memoir. My photographer, Bob Metelus, has been following me around for the last 10, 11 years, capturing moments, private moments, public moments, and I wanted to be able to do a memoir, but do it through photos, and not just have words on the paper but really allow the photos to speak.

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How did you and Bob first connect?

Understanding that life was going by fast, NBA years go by so fast, I remember talking to my business manager Lisa Joseph at the time, and I was like, “Man, I really need somebody to be around us and travel with us, and capture moments.” Well, lo and behold, she wound up dating a man who brought a camera with him one day, and she was like, “Hey, how about you take some photos?” We were on a trip, and he just started taking photos. And he took this one photo of me, it’s in the book, I’m on a plane with a BlackBerry in my hand. And I really loved that moment, I really loved that photo. And I was just like, “Bro, can you do more of this for me?”

From your 2003 draft class, Carmelo Anthony just had a memoir come out , and LeBron James may be approaching the end of his career. How much has this been feeling like the end of an era?

We got LeBron and Carmelo holding it down. That’s all we got left. Everybody else is on to the next stage of life. A lot of memoirs coming out; Chris Bosh recently had a book that came out. We all are on to this next phase of life. It’s great to be able to be in a place where you can put your ideas and your expressions and your thoughts on paper and put it in book form, because these are your own words. My entire life has been someone else’s words. Reporters get to write our story all the time. That’s why social media is so big, because now people get to control their own story. That’s what this is. The memoir is just controlling your own stories, telling your own stories, from your own perspective to your base, your fans.

Were those kinds of conversations about wanting to tell your own stories happening among players while you were in the league?

For me, I think once I started with Bob following me around, once people got over the idea that it wasn’t Hollywood—people said, “Aw, you got camera crews following you, that’s Hollywood”—once people got over that idea that it wasn’t Hollywood, and I was telling guys, “Hey, this is what I’m doing, I’m not the only one doing this, of course, but this is what I’m doing.” You see more guys be open to capturing moments, because you see how fast it goes. As long as LeBron’s been able to play, as long as he will be able to play, it still ends one day. And you’re gonna wanna have these moments. So I’ve definitely seen players get more open to it. Bob got very busy for a while.

It’s early, but what’s your experience been like as an owner so far?

Getting that look behind the curtain, I get a chance to learn about the game on the business side in a way that you don’t as a player. You don’t have time. No one is trying to give you this information but you don’t have time to research because you’re trying to be great. So what I’m trying to do, and what I hope to do— Ryan Smith is the majority owner of this team, I am a minority owner. I have a small role in this team. But in my role, I wanna bridge this gap between players and ownership. There shouldn’t be a separation. We’re partners. If we are partners, then it shouldn’t be a separation. We all should be winning and learning and understanding how this game grows and how this game can grow. But the competition part of it makes it that way. Because you play in Philly, when you play in Miami, you’re not supposed to like each other. Well, this is a business. This is a small business that is very lucrative and we all need to do a better job of helping each other understand the business and working together.

What was your experience of that dynamic as a player, and how has it affected your approach now?

As a player, the Arisons [the businessman Micky Arison purchased the franchise in 1995 after his father, Ted, helped found it in 1988] they were amazing with us. Of course, it’s business, so you’re gonna have those moments of uncomfortableness that we’ve had; it’s like family. Some family that you don’t see for a while, you don’t talk to for a while, but y’all gonna make up. You have those moments. But for an ownership group, I thought they did their job to make sure that the talent was on the court. And that we had the team put together so that we could win. That’s the ultimate goal. So we can win and we can win big. So I thought they did a great job. Two years retired and now going into my third year retired from the game, and now being in an ownership seat, I’m trying to take the things that I learned that I know work and I’m trying to erase the things that I knew did not work, that as a player I didn’t appreciate, or just didn’t understand or didn’t want or didn’t feel like we needed. So I think it’s a great time for the game because you’re gonna see more of this, you’re gonna see more players being involved in the management and that’s how it should be. Players are masters. We have master’s degrees in basketball and in sport. It’s so many ways that players can help organizations understand how to deal with players.

I’m not the only one who has that kind of relationship, but the one I’m able to have with Donovan [Mitchell], the one that Ryan and our ownership group is able to have with Donovan is one that can be a unique one. You could look at a Dirk [Nowitzki] , a Mark Cuban relationship and understand that that was one of the first of its kind, with Mark being such a young owner when he came from the tech world. So we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, we’re just trying to bring our own swag and our own ownership way to this.

Were there any moments in the book that stuck out in particular when you revisited them?

From a sports perspective, I think the moments that stick out more so than anything are just the moments when you look and there’s a photo of me and Kobe [Bryant] going at it, or I’m walking with Allen Iverson. You’re playing against and with your idols. I’m in the Olympics with Kobe. I’m playing with some of the greatest to ever play. Those moments stick out because you were a kid with dreams, you were a kid who had on a Kobe jersey, you were a kid who wanted to do these things. Not only did you get to do it, you got to do it with and against them. So those photos in my book, with all the people who are iconic in the sport, those are photos I look at and be like, Damn, man, I got to do something real dope.

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Away's Latest Collaboration Is with NBA Champion Dwyane Wade

By Lale Arikoglu

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It feels like a week doesn’t go by without Away rolling out something new to add to our travel checklist—and the company's latest move is set to have both frequent fliers and basketball fanatics lining up. Enter the smart luggage brand’s latest collaboration with Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, a collection of matte-black aluminum suitcases that have us wondering just how many carry-ons are too many carry-ons for one person to own.

Available in the brand’s four signature sizes—that’s The Carry-On ($475), The Bigger Carry-On ($495), The Medium ($575), and The Large ($595)—the bags come with all the bells and whistles we’ve come to expect from Away. In addition to a removable USB charger and waterproof, built-in laundry bag, there's a tropical-inspired interior lining that channels Wade’s current home of Miami (without feeling too kitsch) and whisper-quiet wheels embossed with sleek, Wade-approved logos. No stranger to the odd sartorial collaboration, Wade has previously teamed up with Amazon Fashion and athletic brand Mission, and the Away collaboration is apparently just the first installment in a collection that will continue to reflect the NBA champion’s favorite ways to travel. “We wanted to design something together that was polished and that showed another side of me, outside of basketball, that’s passionate about style and looking good while on the road,” says Wade.

All bags come with a Miami-inspired interior lining.

The Away x Dwyane Wade collection —available to snap up online and in-store on Tuesday, June 26—is just the latest in a string of high-profile collaborations from the brand, which has seen everyone from Rashida Jones to Karlie Kloss try their hand at luggage design. But this time you’ll want one of bags for the near-indestructible aluminum casing alone—before now, only a silver version was available. Get ready to claim your spot on the waitlist.

Dwyane Wade Wants to Teach You How to Pack

He's about to drop his second luggage collection with Away.

If anyone knows the art of efficient travel, it's Dwyane Wade. He's a professional basketball player, after all; the guy's on the road constantly. And while there is some fun travel—think fashion week with his wife Gabrielle Union—the travel reality of a professional athlete is more like flying from sunny California to blizzard-ridden Minnesota for 36 hours. Over the course of his 15-year career, he's learned how to make the process as painless as possible.

That knowledge base is exactly what makes his ongoing partnership with Away luggage so successful. And this week, that partnership is getting even better with the second installment of Dwyane Wade x Away. The new line has four sizes, as well as a wine (or other liquid of choice) carrier. There are also Wade-approved packing cubes, a duffle bag, and an oversized dopp kit. Everything will be available September 25.

We talked to Wade about the ongoing partnership, his love for travel, and what he does to feel at home when he's not actually there.

He made the luggage he wished he could use.

This one really has my DNA all over it. This collection, pretty selfishly, is what I personally wanted to see and use. I like for everything to have a home, and everything in this is about making travel easier, down to the dopp kit. I always needed more space in my toiletry bag, so we made this one extra large. I hate when I have to go through all of my clothes just to find one thing, so we made the organization bags clear but still sturdy and stylish. Traveling causes so many headaches already. How can we eliminate those, from the time you start packing at home?

He likes a uniform. And organization.

I’m a uniform type person. I want everything to coordinate, go together. I don't like anything out of place. I don't want to go through everything I own. I don't like making a mess. The wine carrier, for example, can be used for many things. You have traveling moms or families, too. You could put milk there, or anything you need, and you'll feel comfortable and confident that it’s not going to spill. It's all these small things that make your travel easy when it’s one of the hardest times to travel.

He doesn't skimp on grooming while traveling.

I overdo it on the dopp kit. Like I said, I’m uniform, so say I use Dove body wash. Then, I gotta have the Dove bar soap, the deodorant—a hard stick and a spray. I need lotion. I need oil. Toothbrush. Toothpaste. I need something for my curls. Shampoo, all that. I want to make sure that when I get out there, I don't have to go to the store and buy products. If I could only bring one thing, though, it would be deodorant. I ain't gonna smell.

His wife, Gabrielle Union, taught him quite a few grooming tricks.

I go off of what my wife uses. Right now, she has her own line [Flawless], so I can use her stuff, which is great. She even has edge control, so I can get my edges right! And we share products, too. She's introduced me to a lot of things. Like, how to stop breaking out when I'm constantly in different climates. I didn't know you could do that. My wife is all about anti-aging. She’s a 45 year old woman who doesn’t look her age. Now I’m into it, too.

No, he's really not kidding about the grooming.

The toiletry bag is serious for me. I have a lot of things to try to look halfway decent. It’s also a way to bring a little bit of your home with you. When you’re traveling, you’re already out of your comfort zone. Your comfort is what you bring from home. I dislike my teammates who don’t bring anything. You think you’re going to come on this road trip and use my body wash? That’s disrespectful. And I have all of the good stuff.

He packs little pieces of home when he travels.

I pack photos when I’m going away for a while. When I go to China [for sneaker brand Li-Ning], every hotel I go to will have photos of my family around. Once they started doing that, I started taking them when I’d leave. And now if I’m going away for a while, I travel with those photos. I put them near my bed or dresser; they're of my kids or my wife. It makes a hotel room feel like more like a house. The products I bring, the stuff I use, the pictures I have—these are all of the things that make me feel at home.

He wants to be a more minimalist packer.

My stylist is terrible at packing my clothes because she overpacks. Of course, that’s partly my fault because I love having options. But I’m at this point in my life now where less is more—even though my less is still a lot. Now, it's a pair of black jeans and blue jeans, not two black and two blue and one white. How can I simplify what I’m bringing? It might be repeating a lot of clothes, but that’s OK. I’m an adult. I can rotate my clothes now. I’m trying to master not packing a new outfit for every day. How I can I use something from two nights ago for this night?You see these rich billionaires who wear the same thing all the time. I want to do that! I’m at that level of, This is what works, this is my uniform .

He never thought he'd get to love traveling this much.

I’m just a kid from Chicago and went to college in Milwaukee. I never went anywhere until I went to Miami for the NBA. For me, just to be able to experience anything and have different conversations, and to be inspired by different cultures... Anything I do from a creativity standpoint comes from travel—from what I see, from where I go, from who I talk to. It has opened me up so much. It’s been pivotal in my life. I remember one of the first times I traveled out of the country was to Italy. I was amazed. I fell in love with the culture and the vibe. I thought, This is what I want to do: I want to get to this point where I can travel the world and see different places . I will never forget it.

He's excited for what's to come.

There are so many things in my life that I never thought I would get to do or see. And that’s the thing: You just have to keep experiencing life as it comes, and be able to adjust to it and be able to enjoy it. Sure, I dreamt that I'd be in the NBA, but I never would’ve thought that I’d be in it, or that I’d have a successful career in it. If you put effort and love in it, you never know what can happen. Whatever my life turns into, wherever it is, I’m going to prepare for it, I’m going to do my best at it, and I’m going to enjoy it.

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Dwyane Wade cleared to travel with team for Wednesday's game

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Heat guard Dwyane Wade is set to travel with the team for Wednesday's game at Golden State after dealing with migraines Tuesday, the Miami Herald reports.

Wade was inactive for Tuesday's game while dealing with the issue, but it seems like he'll be able to hit the court one more time before the All-Star break. Wade has averaged 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists over 36 games played.

Heat's Dwyane Wade: Triple-doubles in final game

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Thank Dwyane Wade for Away’s Sleek New Aluminum Luggage

Let’s be honest, being an NBA All-Star and Miami Heat player doesn’t have many downsides. You make tons of money, have adoring fans, are beamed into millions of Americans’ homes during the season, and, you’re based in one of America’s coolest cities . Well, not all the time. The team does have to travel — a lot. So it’s no surprise that Dwyane Wade  takes point when it comes to his luggage. Partnering up with beloved suitcase and luggage brand, Away, Wade has created, without a doubt, the best looking iteration of the hard-sided, clam-shell suitcase the company has created to date.

Wrapping each of Away’s four sizes of suitcase in a matte black aluminum brings the same sense of sharp, gentleman-meets-high-roller style Wade sports off the court , where he’s often found donning a slim cut, black suits, blazers, button-downs, killer sneaks, and oxfords. Wade’s combination of athleticism and energy along with his tropical home base of Miami inspired the cases’ interior abstract tropical lining and custom logo wheels.

Every Away suitcase offer multiple features that, in addition to the sleek design and appearance, has made Away a favorite of most of The Manual’s staff. Some of the features we love are the unbreakable polycarbonate shell (because we know baggage handlers aren’t the most gentle of airline professionals), the ejectable battery pack that has saved us more times than we can count, a TSA-approved combination lock that makes us feel a little more secure, 360-degree Hinomoto wheels for super streamlined and smooth airport maneuvering, an interior compression system (to fit those last few souvenirs in), and a hidden laundry bag to keep the foul-scented away from the fresh.

The Carry-On – $475

• Zero Halliburton’s Sleek Pursuit Aluminum Luggage Collection Is Fit for James Bond

Exterior:21.7” x 13.7” x 9” Interior: 20” x 13.5” Weight: 7 lbs

The Bigger Carry-On – $495

Exterior: 22.7” x 14.7” x 9.6” Interior: 21” x 14.5” Weight: 7.3 lbs

The Medium – $575

Exterior: 26” x 18.5” x 11” Interior: 24” x 17.5” Weight: 8.5 lbs

The Large – $595

Exterior: 29” x 20.5” x 12.5” Interior: 27” x 19.5” Weight: 9.9 lbs

The Away X Dwyane Wade Collection  will be available at Away’s website  and in-stores beginning June 26, 2018.

Need a few other options for carry-on luggage? Check out our top picks . When you have met all your luggage needs, put them to good use in one of America’s most fun cities to visit this summer .

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• Thanks to Apple’s New AirTag, You’ll Never Have to Worry About Lost Luggage Again

The newest addition to the Hublot MP-11 collection is a formidable presence, measuring a whopping 45mm in diameter and 14.4mm in thickness, so you'll need some major confidence if you want to sport this beast on your wrist. The inaugural Sapphire Big Bang was introduced in 2016 and since then the brand has delighted fans with an array of color iterations, from other sapphire colors to purple and orange. Now, Glacier Blue has been introduced, just in time to keep you cool this summer (in attitude, not temperature, unfortunately.) Hublot: The Big Bang MP-11 in Glacier Blue

This Big Bang MP-11 features a 14-day power reserve, which is achieved through seven series-coupled barrels arranged in a horizontal configuration, and all of that can be viewed by the wearer. The truly vibrant Glacier Blue (seriously, the blue is so bright you'll feel like you're about to start seeing your breath) is made with a fresh chemical composition but still shares the same properties as sapphire: luminous, and able to withstand scratches. Technical specifications This Hublot watch will leave you completely mesmerized for several hours before you even think about the technical specifications, though there are some exceptional details to go over. Inside this MP-11 is the HUB9011 Manufacture manual-winding skeleton power reserve movement. As we mentioned above, there are seven series-coupled barrels, but they've been arranged in a coaxial and vertical configuration so the watch is able to maintain a super slim profile of just 10.9mm. All tied together like a bow on top is the blue transparent structured rubber strap with a titanium deployant buckle clasp.

The watch world is rich with history. With brands like Rolex, Omega, and Tudor coming out of Switzerland, it is easy to forget that they all owe a little part of their success to the father brand of all wristwatches, Patek Philippe. Since they created the first Swiss wristwatch for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary in 1868, they have innovated and led the way to create a massive watch industry that chronophiles love.

This year, at Watches and Wonders, they showed again that they are the best in the business by providing a whole slate of timepieces for us to ogle for the coming year. Here are all the watches Patek Philippe dropped in Geneva that you need to know about. World Time with Date

With just 100 days until the Paris 2024 Olympics, Omega is capitalizing on its status as the official timekeeper of the event with another new release. The Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope has remained unchanged since its initial release in 2021, in which it featured a large case and a vintage dial. However, with a big summer ahead, the Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope collection has expanded with two new iterations. Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope: New additions for the Paris 2024 Olympics

Last year, clearly already excited for the Olympics like a kid asking about Christmas in March, Omega released the two-tone Seamaster Dive 300m as a commemorative watch. Now, we have a second set of watches to celebrate the upcoming games (at this rate, we're half expecting Omega to drop a new watch to celebrate the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony, and all the sports in between. Essentially, these latest Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope timepieces maintain the essence of their predecessors, however, they feature different materials and colors, which can actually yield a significant difference. Technical specifications

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Dwyane Wade, And The Seven-Step Travel

By NBA standards, the first three or four steps probably wouldn’t warrant a whistle, because as he’s breaking out way above the top of the key and squaring up, he’s gathering the ball. Sure, there might have been an extra step in there, but no advantage was gained by the time he planted his pivot foot — and he can do whatever he wants with his other foot once the pivot is established — so a whistle is unlikely at that point. You may not like it, and feel free to scream to the high heavens in disagreement (cue the anti-NBA crowd who thinks anything beyond two steps is an affront to the sanctity of the sport), but that is the reality of the situation.

As for those last three steps? Well, that’s some Dan Majerle shit , right there.

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Miami Heat Legend Dwyane Wade Pulls Out $244,850 Porsche in Suave Wealth Display

F ew individuals have as much of an impact on luxury and elegance as Dwyane Wade . The former Miami Heat icon recently generated fire on social media with his most recent extravagant display—a sleek, black Porsche 911 Turbo. Wade’s selection of wheels, with a $244,850 price tag, showcases his tasteful aesthetic and demonstrates his standing as a tasteful curator of the finer things in life. What drives an NBA superstar to engage in such ostentatious displays of wealth?

The everlasting trendsetter Dwyane Wade showed off his newest purchase, a $244,850 Porsche 911 Turbo, on Instagram. Wade easily projected refinement as he drove through the city streets, his all-black exterior shining beneath the Miami heat. The sleek Porsche design was enhanced by his sophisticated style, making for an impressive sight for observers.

Wade’s note for his Porsche: A pinch of humor

Did you know? The Porsche 911 Turbo is a perfect example of a luxury sports automobile; it is now rated as the fourth finest in the world. This technological marvel sprints from 0 to 60 miles per hour in only 2.2 seconds, leaving rivals in the dust owing to its potent engine and unmatched performance. Wade’s choice of the classic 911 Turbo is a clear expression of his fondness for looks as well as speed.

The $244,850 Porsche 911 Turbo owned by Dwyane Wade is more than simply a means of the ability to move; it represents his unmatched achievement and everlasting drive to perfection. Accompanied by the hilarious caption “It’s Porsche not Pors@porscheusa Appreciate the Miami,” Wade responds with a natural charm and refinement that confirms his position as a connoisseur of life’s pleasures.

The amazing car portfolio of Dwyane Wade

Wade’s remarkable car collection consists of his Porsche 911 Turbo, adding to an esteemed array of exquisite automobiles. Every car radiates luxury and sophistication, from the McLaren 570S to the Cadillac Escalade EXT. Wade’s prominence in the automobile industry was demonstrated when The Collection, a dealership with headquarters in Florida, gave him a $799,000 McLaren for his birthday.

Wade loves sports and cars, but his passion for them extends beyond simple ownership. They’re a reflection of his character and sense of style. Whether it was a personal pleasure or a present from his wife, Gabrielle Union, every piece in his collection narrates a tale of extravagance and luxury. Thus, Wade has always had a thing for fancy, expensive automobiles, as he navigates life in the fast lane.

The post Miami Heat Legend Dwyane Wade Pulls Out $244,850 Porsche in Suave Wealth Display appeared first on EssentiallySports .

Miami Heat | Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s Heat playoff debut one for…

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Miami Heat | Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s Heat playoff debut one for the ages? Actually yes, right up there with Dwyane Wade

BOSTON — The motto for the Boston Celtics this season is “Different Here.” Having made his postseason debut on Sunday at TD Garden, Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. agreed.

The difference, though, is he was talking more about the moment than the venue.

“I think it was definitely different.”Jaquez said, with the teams turning their attention to Wednesday night’s Game 2 at TD Garden . “You could feel the difference from regular-season game to the playoffs, the intensity level, the fans, the energy, everything is just heightened.

“But then it just becomes basketball.”

In closing with 16 points on 8-of-16 shooting in 35:36, Jaquez became the first Heat first-round pick to start a playoff debut since both Dwyane Wade and Caron Butler did it in the 2004 first round against the New Orleans’ Hornets.

Jaquez’s 35:36 also was the longest appearance in the playoff debut by a Heat first-round pick since Butler played 42:01 and Wade 41:36 in that April 18, 2004 game at what then was called AmericanAirlines Arena.

In the last two decades, only Wade, with his 21 points in that game, scored more in a playoff debut by a Heat first-round pick.

“I feel like he really handled it well,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said. “He took his shots with confidence. He played winning basketball; we just didn’t win.”

As a matter of perspective, Adebayo played off the bench (behind Hassan Whiteside) in his 2018 playoff debut, with the No. 14 selection in the 2017 NBA draft out of Kentucky closing with six points in 20:31 in a 130-103 opening-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Current teammate Tyler Herro also played as a reserve in his playoff debut (behind Goran Dragic), with the No. 13 pick in 2019 out of Kentucky closing with 15 points in 33:29 in a 113-101 opening-round victory over the Indiana Pacers in the Disney World pandemic bubble.

Other playoff debuts by Heat first-round picks over the past two decades also came off the bench and largely were nondescript, including a 10-point postseason debut by Michael Beasley in 2009, and eight-point playoff debut by Justise Winslow in 2016 and a three-point playoff debut by Precious Achiuwa in 2021.

The difference this time around is it’s Jaquez out of necessity, with Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck) sidelined,

Coach Erik Spoelstra said Jaquez’s debut was heartening, now with potentially even more needed headed into the second game of the best-of-seven opening-round Eastern Conference series, which then shifts to Kaseya Center for Game 3 on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday.

“He gathered himself,” Spoelstra said of Jaquez overcoming an uneven start in Sunday’s 114-94 loss . “We need him to be aggressive, so it’s all not just Tyler and Bam.”

Adebayo said from his experience, there is nothing like the playoffs until experienced firsthand.

“You understand how important every possession is,” Adebayo said. “You understand how important every possession, every shot, turnover, everything matters, from more schemes to doing every detail.”

It is those details that again were to be drilled during Tuesday’s practice at TD Garden.

But even during the course of Sunday’s game, Spoelstra said he saw last June’s No. 18 pick out of UCLA growing into the moment.

“The decision-making once he gets into the paint, that’s part of his development,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat lacking much otherwise in the way of attack mode with Butler and Rozier sidelined. “He’s gotten much better in the last six weeks or so reading the defense, reading the backside, reading where the help is coming, reading if cutters or spacers are open, or if he could get all the way to the rim.”

Although not one of the three finalists for Rookie of the Year, with those nods going to Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren and Brandon Miller, Jaquez in coming weeks is expected to become the first Heat player named first-team All-Rookie since Kendrick Nunn in 2020 (Herro was second team that year, Adebayo did not make either of the teams in 2018).

For now, the awards can wait. Because just as with Wade and Caron Butler two decades earlier in their playoff debuts, the Heat need as much as they can get from their first-round pick, with Jaquez appreciative of the second step that now has to follow.

“I would just say continuing to be able to trust in my game and believe in what I do,” he said. “I think, as a team, there’s things we got to clean up. But I think we got a lot of clarity and confidence going into this next game.”

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What’s the best hip-hop lyric to name-drop Kobe Bryant?

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Kobe Bryant was many things: a husband, dad, coach, gold medalist, brand spokesman, role model and, of course, one of the greatest basketball players to ever grace the court. You know: a hero .

In the classical, Storytelling 101 sense, in fact, he was an archetype of the kind that writer Joseph Campbell described in his book about myths and narrative patterns, “The Hero With a Thousand Faces”: a person who embarks on a journey, faces seemingly insurmountable odds, comes out victorious and returns home transformed.

Starting with his Lakers debut in 1996, Bryant elbowed his way through the paint to become this ultimate archetype. And if Bryant was a recent incarnation of Campbell’s template, then rappers have been the awe-struck, and occasionally back-biting, poets of his adventure.

Just as epic poet Homer’s work “The Odyssey” documented the Greek hero Odysseus’ tribulations and homecoming, artists including Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, the Game, Schoolboy Q, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj and dozens, if not hundreds, more, have drawn from Bryant’s legendary arc to tell their stories. His name has been uttered in so many songs that future historians may wonder on his God-like role in our collective imagination .

It’s hard not to think about Bryant’s journey in Campbell’s description : “A hero [Bryant] ventures forth from the world of common day [high school hoops] into a region of supernatural wonder [NBA]: fabulous forces are there encountered [Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, the media] and a decisive victory is won [the Five Rings]: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power [family, fame, fortune, wisdom, #girldad energy ] to bestow boons on his fellow man [Kanye West, Chief Keef, Drake, NBA fans].”

Some of it is timing: Bryant matured as a player as rap was staking its claim as pop music’s dominant form. Some of it is location: L.A. has a way of amplifying its own. There’s also luck: “Kobe” is easily rhymed, especially loosely: words and phrases including goalie, hold me, Jodeci, snow me, trophy, Ginóbili and adobe have all been coupled with Kobe.

Still, the sheer volume of “Kobe” mentions hidden in rhymed couplets is notable, as are the variety of ways his name has been employed. Depending on the artist and the era, “Kobe” has been shorthand for characteristics including excellence, persistence, wealth, fame, temptation and success in the face of adversity. Even Bryant’s hairstyle has been tapped: “Used to be in Lake Forest with the Kobe ‘fro,” recalled Washington, D.C., rapper Wale in Logic’s song “100 Miles and Running.”

Chicago drill rapper Chief Keef simplified Bryant’s adventure in “Kobe,” his popular 2012 track : “I’ve been balling so damn hard, I swear I think that I’m Kobe (swish).” Kobe’s legend involves born-into-basketball birthrights and a relentless work ethic, as conveyed in Lil Wayne’s 2009 song “Kobe Bryant.” “Practice while you sleep / Practice in my sleep,” he raps. “Straight outta high school / The brackets ain’t for me / I will be jumping over you / Like I got a mattress at my feet.”

As these rhymed similes and metaphors accrue, many of the standard heroic traits reveal themselves. For those looking, it’s easy to spot connections to the so-called 17 stages in Campbell’s journey.

The most obvious one, of course, is the means by which Bryant used physical grace and skill through various on-court trials, quests, boons and rewards. Big Sean in “No More Interviews” referenced Bryant’s 1998 NBA all-star game star-turn by name-checking the brand of Adidas shoes that the player wore that night: “Going off like Kobe when he wore the Crazy Eights.” New York mogul 50 Cent addressed an adversary in 2002’s “Guess Who’s Back” with a threat: “You wanna get acquainted with me, you wanna know me? / From three-point range with a Glock / I shoot better than Kobe.”

Bryant’s tenacity both on and off the court has been harnessed by rappers to prove their own meddle: “Kobe Bryant mind-state — I’m shooting ‘til I’m accurate,” declared Jay Rock in a “Numbers on the Board” freestyle . Yung Thug likened his skills on the mike in “Check” to Bryant’s on the court when he said , “I promise I won’t ever quit, bitch I’m Kobe.” Injured? Play through it like Kidd Kidd of the G-Unit: “Kobe Bryant in the clutch / balling with my ankle sprained.”

For his part, Compton’s the Game once compared his dope-dealing capacity to Bryant’s court-length advances: “Dribble rock like Kobe Bryant bounce the ball.” Travis Scott in “Stargazing” told of an ability to rise above pettiness by referencing both Bryant and, er, the Japanese beef delicacy: “I’m way too gold for this beef, feel like I’m Kobe.” Migos in “ Shooters ” threatened to precisely target an enemy “like Kobe in the clutch.”

Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Lamar honed in on another key storytelling element — the mentor, often all-knowing, who guides our hero toward glory — in “untitled 02.” Name-checking former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson and Top Dawg label chief Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, Lamar rapped that “me and Top is like a Kobe and Phil / A father figure, f— with him, you get killed.”

Then there is the sheer scale of Kobe’s fame, which platinum superstar Drake described with uncouth fan-boy energy on his track “Views.” Given that there are few better ways for a Canadian to increase his stature in L.A. than a Kobe name-drop, it was a smart move: “Me and Kobe doing shots the night before the game / Still drop 40 with liquor in my system.”

For his part, West used Bryant’s juice to advance his own narcissism when, in a verse for the remix of Beyonce’s “Ego,” West rapped of meeting Bryant as being a kind of pinnacle: “I had dreams of the league / One day I’d play Kobe / I walk up to Puff and he already knows me.”

The hip-hop soothsayers also tell of the siren calls and various temptations that came with Bryant-level heroics. To be as powerful as Bryant, after all, was to face public trials both personal and professional. As understood by anyone who’s ever consumed the “Star Wars” franchise, read J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy or entered any of Wu-Tang Clan’s 36 chambers, enemies are everywhere.

In “Stay Schemin’,” Rick Ross referenced the once-rocky state of Bryant’s marriage and how its end could have affected his bank account: “Kobe about to lose $150 Ms / Kobe’s my [friend], I hate it had to be him.” New York rapper Nas didn’t earn any Lakers fans when he called out Bryant in one 2003 verse . Referencing the rape allegation against Bryant, Nas rapped, “I got gangsta hoes Kobe Bryant scared to sodomize.” Chance the Rapper in “Juice” delivered a backhanded compliment when he taunted a detractor’s seeming lay-up victory by writing, “You love being Kobe when you make the lay-er / ‘Til you realize everybody in the world [frickin’] hates the Lakers.” Ouch.

Kobe’s name, in fact, has been checked so often that it’s a cliche. To claim greatness akin to Bryant’s is to implicitly disprove your own point. Few narrators are a bigger threat to a hero’s longevity than the lazy. Chief Keef has rapped about Bryant so often that the nod has lost all meaning: “My favorite player Kobe / You be holy moly / That mean you be with police.” What? The L.A. rapper Blueface, in a verse on a song about having a particularly athletic round of sex, bragged that he “hit her with a pump fake / Turn around, pull off like I’m Kobe with the Lakers.” Swish?

Next time he should try rhyming about Giannis Antetokounmpo or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander instead.

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Former staff writer Randall Roberts covered Los Angeles music culture for the Los Angeles Times. He had served various roles since arriving at The Times in 2010, including music editor and pop music critic. As a staff writer, he explored the layered history of L.A. music, from Rosecrans and Sunset to Ventura Boulevard and beyond. His 2020 project on the early Southern California phonograph industry helped identify the first-ever commercial recording made in Los Angeles.

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Gabrielle Union And Tia Mowry's Dance Routine Is A Fun Christina Aguilera Throwback

Gabrielle Union and Tia Mowry recently joined forces for a fun dance routine on TikTok, and it’s filled with late ’90s and early 2000s nostalgia.

On Tuesday, the actors both posted a clip of their choreographed dance to Christina Aguilera’s 1999 song, “Come on Over (All I Want is You),” on their respective TikTok accounts.

Mowry and Union, who both stunned in vibrant dresses, posed at the end of the dance routine before breaking out into laughter.

Both actors appeared in popular sitcoms and movies in the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Mowry memorably starred in the hit ’90s show, “Sister, Sister,” with her real-life twin sister, fellow actor Tamera Mowry-Housley. Union, who acted in popular 2000s movies such as “Love & Basketball” and “Bring it On,” appeared in several episodes of “Sister, Sister.”

Union and Mowry have celebrated the history of their friendship on social media before. In 2021, they celebrated their daughters getting together for a playdate , kicking off countless amounts of entertaining moments for the next generation.

Gabrielle Union photographed with her daughter, Kaavia, in Hollywood, California, on March 16, 2022.

The actors both posted videos of their then-2-year-old daughters cruising together in a toddler-sized electric car. One video showed Mowry’s daughter, Cairo, and Union’s daughter, Kaavia, hugging each other as their parents watched nearby.

Tia Mowry pictured with her daughter, Cairo, in Los Angeles, California, on May 8.

Union and her basketball Hall of Famer husband, Dwyane Wade,  welcomed Kaavia  in November 2018. Mowry and her ex-husband, fellow actor Cory Hardrict, welcomed Cairo earlier that year in May.

In September 2020, Union shared a post on Instagram celebrating her longtime friendship with Mowry and Mowry-Housley, sharing that she had known the sisters for nearly 25 years at the time.

“I worked on ‘Sister, Sister’ at the beginning of my career, and we’ve stayed in touch ever since,” she wrote. “It has been amazing to watch all they have accomplished throughout their careers.”

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Dwyane Wade calls LSU's Angel Reese 'generational talent' ahead of Chicago Sky's WNBA draft

Angel Reese quickly became one of women's college basketball's biggest stars in her two seasons at LSU — something she will look to replicate in the WNBA.

Perhaps in the Windy City, with the Chicago Sky ?

Reese is largely projected to hear her name called in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft, but still must wait to see where she will begin her professional career. But three-time NBA champion and Sky partial owner Dwyane Wade may have hinted that the Sky have interest in the SEC Player of the Year: He called her a "generational talent" in his WNBA draft hype video on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday.

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"It's an exciting time knowing that you have a third pick in the draft, and you are like, 'Oh who is coming out? Who can we get?'" Wade said. "I love that for us. There is no better time than now. To be in a position with ownership and be invested in a team, it feels so good knowing that the talent is coming and the level is about to level up even more.

"To be able to have the generational talent like Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark and so many others, man. As we are in a rebuilding stage, you've got to be excited. ... To be able to get back to being 2021 WNBA champion."

Wade, who starred at Marquette in college before going on to have a Hall of Fame career in the NBA, joined the Sky's ownership in July 2023. He became the second high-profile NBA athlete to become a WNBA owner, joining Magic Johnson  (Los Angeles Sparks).

With the Sky owning two first-round picks in Monday's WNBA draft — Nos. 3 and 7 — Reese has been linked to Chicago for several weeks after she announced she would declare for the WNBA. Reese at No. 7 overall to the Sky is an interesting fit for the "Bayou Barbie," but one that makes sense: Chicago needs help defensively and at the glass after ranking ninth in the WNBA last season in total rebounds.

Xs and Os aside, Wade has recently healed his relationship with former Heat teammate Shaquille O'Neil, whom Reese considers a "father figure" and who was at Reese's senior day last month.

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Here's the latest of what you need to know about where Reese is projected in WNBA mock drafts:

Angel Reese WNBA mock drafts

• ESPN's Michael Voepel: No. 7 overall to the Chicago Sky
• CBS Sports' Jack Maloney: No. 7 overall to the Sky
• USA Today Sports' Scooby Axson: No. 7 overall to Sky
• Bleacher Report's Joseph Zucker: No. 10 overall to the Connecticut Sun
• Yahoo Sports' Jackie Powell: No. 7 overall to the Sky
• NBC Sports' Meghan McKeown: No. 7 overall to the Sky

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Sign up for essence newsletters the keep the black women at the forefront of conversation., zaya wade looked absolutely stunning for her prom  .

Prom season is upon us again, and Zaya Wade is partaking in the festivities. The 16-year-old model headed to prom recently and looked gorgeous in an all-black Miu Miu ensemble (with the matching glossy bag).

She posted an image on her Instagram page captioned “ went to prom. ”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zaya Wade (@zayawade)

Zaya is the daughter of retired NBA star Dwyane Wade and ex-wife Siovaughn Funches. The former basketball player and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union-Wade , both reposted the image of their daughter at prom in their Instagram Stories to show her love.

Some fans wanted to know who Zaya went to prom with, but she didn’t share any information on her date or whether she had one. Zaya’s brother Zaire, was one of those people, commenting on her picture, “WITH WHO?!?!” alongside a red-faced “angry” emoji.

Prom aside, the 16-year-old is currently visiting colleges. Back in March, she was seen touring the University of Washington with Union and her baby sister, Kaavia.

Some fans have wondered where Zaya’s mother, Siovaughn, has been and why it appeared that she didn’t partake in the college tours and these special moments. That may have something to do with her past legal battle with Dwyane . Siovaughn argued that Dwyane, who was awarded sole custody of Zaya and Zaire in 2011, violated the custody order by legally attempting to change Zaya’s name from the name she was given at birth and wanted the judge to intervene so she would have to wait until the age of 18. She also accused Dwyane of pushing Zaya’s transition for financial gain, which he vehemently denied. However, Zaya was granted a legal name and sex change by a judge in 2023.

That said, Dwayne has been consistent in stating that he and Union have his daughter’s best interests at heart in everything they do and only wish to support her.

“As your father, my job isn’t to create a version of myself or direct your future. My role is to be a facilitator to your hopes, your wishes, your dreams,” Wade said in a speech when he and Union were honored with the president’s award at the NAACP Image Awards in 2023. “Zaya, you’ve made me a better human just simply by being who you were born to be: our baby girl, Zaya Wade. So baby, thank you for showing the world what courage looks like. I’m proud that I was chosen to stand in place as your father.”

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