Dwyane Wade

Wade led the Marquette Golden Eagles in scoring with 17.8 points (ppg) and led Conference USA in both steals per game with 2.47 and 2-point field goals made with 205;[17] he averaged 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists.[18] Marquette finished with a 26–7 record, their best since the 1993–94 season.[14]

Wade again led the school in scoring with 21.5 points and the Golden Eagles finished with a 27–6 record.[19] Three days after JoLinda was released from prison, she saw Wade play basketball for the first time in five years as Marquette upset the Cincinnati Bearcats, 70–61, to capture the Conference USA title on March 8, 2003. He helped bring the Golden Eagles to the Final Four for the first time since their 1977 national championship season. Wade was subsequently named to the All-America First Team by the Associated Press (AP), making him the first basketball player from Marquette to receive the distinction since 1978.[14]

Wade's performance during the Midwest Regional final drew national attention. Against a top-seeded Kentucky team, he delivered 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, including a memorable breakaway dunk, as Marquette upset the Wildcats, 83–69, and advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1977.[20] Wade's triple double was the fourth ever recorded in NCAA tournament history. The Golden Eagles finished their season as No.6 in the AP Poll, Marquette's highest ranking since 1976–77. Wade was named the MVP of the Midwest Regional. His performance earned him a high NBA draft projection.[21] As a result, Wade skipped his senior year to enter the 2003 NBA draft.

Marquette retired his jersey on February 3, 2007. It ordinarily requires student-athletes to have graduated for jersey retirement, but made an exception for Wade.[22]

Wade dunking the ball during the 2004 Rookie Challenge game for the Rookies team

Selected fifth in the 2003 NBA draft by the Miami Heat, Wade became the highest ranked of only four Marquette first round draft picks.[23] Wade quickly emerged as a productive player, averaging 16.2 points on 46.5% shooting as well as 4 rebounds and 4.5 assists.[24] After a 5–15 start, the Heat gradually improved to finish 42–40 and qualify for the playoffs.[25] Wade served up outstanding postseason performances, particularly against the Indiana Pacers during the Eastern Conference Semifinals.[23] Wade earned a unanimous selection to the 2004 NBA All-Rookie Team[23] and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting (after LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony).[23] He placed among the top five rookies in several statistical categories, including second in field goal percentage, second in steals, third in scoring, fourth in assists, and fourth in minutes played.[23]

In the first playoff game, Wade hit a running jumper with 1.3 seconds left in the final quarter to give the Heat an 81–79 victory over the New Orleans Hornets. Winning that series 4–3, the Heat faced the Indiana Pacers, who were the top-seeded team with the best record in the NBA. The Heat lost the series 4–2. Wade became only the fourth rookie in the shot clock era to lead his team points and assists during the postseason.[23]

Wade with the ball versus the Milwaukee Bucks in 2005

The Heat traded with the Los Angeles Lakers for center Shaquille O'Neal. Improving on their previous season's 42–40 record by 17 games, Miami went 59–23, leading the Eastern Conference.[26] Wade earned a reserve slot in the season's All-Star Game; adding 14 points in 24 minutes of play.[24]

In the first round of the 2005 playoffs, Wade averaged 26.3 points, 8.8 assists, and 6 rebounds a night while maintaining a 50% field-goal percentage as the Heat swept the New Jersey Nets.[27] In the second round he averaged 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists per game as the Heat swept the Washington Wizards.[27] The Heat lost the Eastern Conference Finals 4–3 to the Detroit Pistons, the previous season's champions. Wade scored 42 points in Game 2 and 36 in Game 3 despite playing with sinusitis, the flu, and a knee strain. He suffered a strained rib muscle in Game 5 that prevented him from playing in the sixth game and limited him in the seventh.[28][26]

Wade at the free throw line

In the 2005–06 season, Wade was elected to the All-Star Game as a starter. During 30 minutes of play, he put up 20 points on 9-of-11 field goals.[29] Wade finished the regular season averaging 27.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.95 steals.[30]

In the first round of the 2006 playoffs, Miami played the Chicago Bulls. Wade incurred several injuries, including a severely bruised hip during Game 5.[31] He scored 15 of his 28 points while suffering intense pain, to give the Heat a 3–2 series lead. Wade led Miami past the Detroit Pistons despite experiencing flu-like symptoms in Game 6.[32] In the series-clinching contest, he landed 14 points and 10 assists.[32]

During the 2006 NBA Finals, Miami faced the Dallas Mavericks. Wade's 42, 36, and 43 points in Games 3, 4, and 5, respectively, helped the Heat go from a 0–2 deficit to a 3–2 series lead.[33] In Game 3, Wade's 42 points tied his playoff-high and his 13 rebounds were a career-high.[34][35] The Heat took Game 6 behind Wade's 36 points, taking the series 4–2, earning Wade the Finals MVP trophy.[36] He became the fifth-youngest player in NBA history to capture the Finals MVP award, and his 34.7 points were the Finals' third-highest among players in their first NBA Finals.[37] His 33.8 player efficiency rating (PER) over the NBA Finals was ranked by John Hollinger of ESPN as the best since the NBA-ABA merger.[38]

In the 2006–07 season, Wade missed 31 games due to injury; even so, he was elected to his third consecutive All-Star Game and received All-NBA honors. He became the first guard to earn All-NBA honors after missing 31 or more games since Pete Maravich.[23] The Heat struggled with injuries in general and were 20–25 on February 1, 2007.[39] Playing the Houston Rockets on February 21, 2007, Wade dislocated his left shoulder and left the court in a wheelchair.[40] Wade chose to delay surgery and instead rehabilitate his shoulder in time for the postseason.[41] After missing 23 games, Wade returned to the active roster. Sporting a black shoulder sleeve, Wade played 27 minutes and notched 12 points and 8 assists in the 111–103 overtime loss.[42] For the season, Wade averaged 27.4 points, 7.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.1 steals, while shooting 50% from the field; further, he finished the season as the NBA PER leader.[43]

During the 2007 playoffs, Wade averaged 23.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per contest, but were swept in the first round by the Chicago Bulls.[44] Post-playoffs, Wade underwent a pair of surgeries to repair his dislocated left shoulder and left knee, both of which proved successful. However, the knee ailment, commonly called "jumper's knee", prevented Wade from joining USA Basketball in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament over that summer.[45]

After missing the Tournament of Americas' Olympic Qualifiers as well as the preseason and the first seven games, Wade began the 2007–08 season on November 14, 2007.[46] Despite battling pain in his injured knee throughout the season,[47] Wade was elected to his fourth consecutive All-Star Game appearance.[48] However, the Heat held the worst record in the NBA. Wade's knee problems led Riley sit Wade for the final 21 games to undergo long overdue OssaTron treatment.[49] Wade averaged 24.6 points, 6.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals.[43]

Wade dribbling the ball in 2009

After months of rehab, he helped the U.S. National Team win gold at the 2008 Olympics, leading the team in scoring. Wade returned to the starting lineup to begin the 2008–09 campaign.[50][51] Early that season, Wade became the second player in NBA history to post at least 40 points, 10 assists and 5 blocks in one game since Alvan Adams in 1976–77.[52] Wade was elected to his fifth consecutive All-Star Game.[53]

After the All-Star break, Wade recorded 50 points on 56.6% shooting along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists during a blow-out loss to the Orlando Magic;[54] making him the fourth in NBA history to score at least 50 points in a game that his team lost by at least 20.[54] In the very next contest, Wade recorded a career-high 16 assists and added 31 points and 7 rebounds.[55] Wade became the second player to record 15 or more assists after scoring 50-plus points since Wilt Chamberlain.[56] Two games later, Wade tied a franchise record, scoring 24 points in the final quarter to secure a 120–115 win over the New York Knicks.[57] For the game, Wade recorded 46 points on 55% field goal shooting, plus 10 assists, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocked shots.[57] In the next game he banked 40-points versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.[58] Wade put up 41 points on 53% shooting along with 9 assists, 7 steals, 7 rebounds and a block in the 107–100 loss.[58] The following game, Wade tied his career-high with 16 assists and added 35 points on 62% shooting, 6 rebounds, plus a steal and a block, as the Heat beat the Phoenix Suns 135–129.[59] Wade became the only player in Heat history to have multiple games with 30-plus points and 15 or more assists.[59] Less than a week later, Wade hit the buzzer-beater and tied his earlier franchise record with his 78th straight double-digit scoring game in double-overtime against the Chicago Bulls.[60] Wade finished the game with 48 points on 71.4% shooting, 12 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks in 50 minutes of play.[60] Wade joined Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to record that many points and that many assists in a single game while having as high of a field goal percentage.[61] Two games later, Wade surpassed Alonzo Mourning to become the Heat's all-time leading scorer in triple overtime versus the Utah Jazz.[62] Wade finished that 140–129 victory with 50 points to go along with his 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks.[62]

Wade became the only player to reach 2,000 points, 500 assists, 150 steals, and 100 blocks as well as the only player under 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) to block upwards of 100 shots in a single season.[63][64] He became the fifth player to accumulate 2,000 points, 500 assists, and 150 steals in a season.[65] Wade helped the Heat clinch a playoff berth and become only the second team to make the postseason after winning 15 or fewer games the season before.[66] In a 122–105 victory over the New York Knicks, Wade recorded a career-high 55 points on 63% field goal shooting and added 9 rebounds and 4 assists.[67] Wade recorded 50 points in only three quarters and was pulled out of the game, one point shy of eclipsing Glen Rice's 56-point franchise record.[67] Wade averaged a league-leading 30.2 points for his first NBA scoring title. He added 7.5 assists, 5 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks.[43] Wade wrapped up the season with higher point, assist, steal, and block averages than James and Kobe Bryant, both of whom finished ahead of Wade in the MVP race.

On November 1, in what was only his third game of the 2009–10 season, Wade recorded his 10,000th career point during a 95–87 win against the Chicago Bulls.[68] On November 12, Wade made a spectacular dunk over Cavalier Anderson Varejão. James regarded the dunk as "great, probably top 10 all-time".[69] Two days later against the New Jersey Nets, Wade hit another buzzer beater for a one-point win at 81–80.[70] On January 6, Wade scored a season-high 44 points during an overtime loss to the Boston Celtics, the most in a losing effort that season.[71] Wade appeared in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.[72] Wade was named the game's MVP with 28 points, 11 assists, 5 steals and 6 rebounds.[73]

On February 17, Wade strained his calf. He left the game, ending his personal and the Heat's franchise-record streak of 148 consecutive games with at least 10 points.[74] Wade was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for the fifth time and Player of the Week twice for his play in the month of March. He averaged 26.9 and 7.5 assists, both of which ranked third in the Eastern Conference, and 2.3 steals per game, which ranked first. Wade recorded six 30-point games and had six double-doubles in the month, including a season-high 14 assists.[75]

For the season, Wade averaged 26.6 points on 47.6% field goal shooting to go with 6.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks; doing so, he led his team to a 47–35 record and the fifth playoff seed.[43] In the first round, down 0–3 against the Boston Celtics, Wade recorded a career playoff and franchise record with 46 points; he outscored the entire Celtics team in the fourth quarter.[76] It was Wade's sixth career playoff game with at least 40 points.[43] Despite his averaging 33.2 points on 56.4% shooting, 6.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks per contest, the Heat fell to Boston in five games.[77]

Wade with his teammate LeBron James

During the off-season, the Miami-Dade County commission renamed the area "Miami-Wade County" from July 1 to 7, a week that coincided with the start of free agency, intended to help convince Wade to stay with the Heat.[78] On July 7, it was announced that Wade would sign with Miami, along with Toronto Raptor star Chris Bosh.[79] The following day, LeBron James announced he would join the Heat.[80]

In the first year of the Big 3 Era, the Heat finished with a 58–24 record and earned the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Wade averaged 25.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 50%. After defeating the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls, the Heat reached the NBA Finals but ultimately fell to the Dallas Mavericks in six games. Wade averaged 26.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists for the Finals and 24.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists for the playoffs.[81]

On February 26, 2012, Wade recorded the third triple-double in the history of the All-Star Game, posting 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, joining Jordan and James. On March 10, 2012, Wade made the game-winning shot against the Indiana Pacers, giving the Heat a 93–91 overtime win. Wade finished the season averaging 22.1 points, 4.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals. The Heat defeated the New York Knicks in 5 games and the Indiana Pacers in six games. In Game 6 of the second round, Wade recorded 41 points and 10 rebounds.[82] The Heat prevailed in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. Wade averaged 22.6 points. The Heat became the first team in NBA history to win a championship after trailing in three playoff series.

Before the start of the 2012–13 season, Wade underwent left knee surgery, missing the 2012 Summer Olympics.[83][84] On December 26, 2012, playing the Charlotte Bobcats, Wade kicked guard Ramon Sessions in the groin. The following day, Wade was suspended by the NBA for one game.[85] Wade finished the 2012–2013 season with averages of 21.2 points, 5 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

In the playoffs, injuries limited Wade to a career-low scoring average of 15.9 points per game, but he upped his average to 19.6 points during the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. After the teams split the first two games in Miami, the Spurs took Game 3. In Game 4, Wade scored 32 points on 56 percent shooting to go with 6 steals as the Heat won 109–93. The Spurs took Game 5 despite Wade's 25 points and 10 assists. Wade scored 14 points in Miami's overtime win in Game 6, followed by 23 points and 10 rebounds in Game 7 as the Heat clinched their second straight championship and Wade's third title.[86][87]

In the 2013–14 season, Wade missed 28 games from injuries and the team's decision to rest him during "back-to-back" games. Wade averaged 19 points and posted a career-high 54% field goal percentage. In the playoffs, the team increased Wade's minutes, highlighted by a 28-point performance in Miami's second-round victory over the Brooklyn Nets and a 23-point outing in a road victory against Indiana in the Eastern Finals. The Heat won the series in six games, advancing to their fourth straight NBA Finals. Wade averaged 19.1 points on 52 percent shooting, his best playoff percentage since 2010. The Heat lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals in five games.

Wade making a lay-up for the Heat in 2015

On June 28, 2014, Wade and teammates James and Bosh all opted out of their contracts in order to cut costs, but intended to re-sign.[88] James then announced that he was returning to Cleveland. Wade re-signed with the Heat,[89] joined by Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Chris Andersen and Mario Chalmers as well as former rivals Danny Granger and Luol Deng.

In the 2014–15 season, Wade missed seven consecutive games due to a hamstring injury.[90] On December 17, 2014, he scored a season-high 42 points, his highest total in almost four years, but Miami lost 105–87 to Utah.[91] He was again named an All-Star but pulled out due to another hamstring injury.[92] The Heat finished the season with a 37–45 record, as Wade missed the postseason for just the second time.

On June 29, 2015, Wade opted out of his contract,[93] but then signed a one-year, $20 million contract.[94] Wade hit just seven 3-point shots during the 2015–16 regular season. However, in the 2016 postseason, Wade converted on his first seven three-point shot attempts. Wade had never made more than five three-pointers in a row.[95]

Wade with the Cavs in 2017

In July 2016, Wade joined his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, on a two-year deal worth approximately $47 million.[96][97] Initially, the Heat offered a two-year, $20 million contract,[98] before increasing it to a two-year, $40 million offer, both of which Wade felt were unacceptable.[99][100] The relationship ended badly with Wade and the Heat squabbling.

Wade teamed with Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo in Chicago.[101] In January 2017, the trio were all fined for criticizing their young teammates' effort. In March 2017, Wade sustained a fractured elbow,[101] returning for the playoffs,[101] but the Bulls were defeated 4–2 by the Boston Celtics in the first round.[102]

On September 24, 2017, three months after trading Butler and waiving Rondo, the Bulls reached an agreement on a buyout with Wade.[101] Three days later, Wade signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, reuniting him with Miami Heat teammate LeBron James.[103] During the season, Wade objected to coach Tyronn Lue's plan to play him off the bench. Wade started for the Cavaliers in the first three games, but shot only 7-for-25. After a blowout loss to the Orlando Magic in the third game, Wade volunteered to take a bench role, becoming leader of the second unit.[104]

On February 8, 2018, at the NBA trade deadline, the Cavaliers overhauled their roster.[105] Acquiring guards Jordan Clarkson, George Hill, Rodney Hood and Cedi Osman, the Cavaliers[105] traded Wade back to the Miami Heat in exchange for a protected 2024 second-round draft pick.[106] At the funeral of Wade's long-time agent Henry Thomas in January, Wade mended relations with Riley. On February 9, in his first game, Wade was garnered a standing ovation and came off the bench in a 91–85 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.[107] On February 27, Wade scored a season-high 27 points as the Heat rallied to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 102–101. On April 3, in a 101–98 win over the Atlanta Hawks, Wade reached 5,000 assists in a Heat uniform, becoming the ninth player to score 20,000 points and collect 5,000 assists with one team, joining Karl Malone, Bryant, Jordan, James, Larry Bird, John Havlicek, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West.[108] On April 16, Wade scored 28 points to end the 76ers' 17-game winning streak and lead the Heat to a 113–103 Game 2 win over Philadelphia and even the first-round playoff series. He passed Larry Bird for 10th on the NBA's career postseason scoring list.[109]

In the off-season, Wade announced his intentions to retire after the 2018–19 season,[110][111][112] re-signing with the Heat on September 18.[113] He missed seven games in mid-November due to the birth of his daughter.[114] On November 25, Wade scored a season-high 35 points, the most ever by a Miami bench player.[115] On December 9, he scored 25 points in his 1,000th career game.[116] On January 6, 2019, Wade became the third player in NBA history to record at least 20,000 points, 5,000 assists, 4,000 rebounds, 1,500 steals, 800 blocks and 500 three-pointers.[117] Wade was named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as a special roster addition for the 2019 All-Star game, thus marking his 13th All-Star appearance.[118] Wade had received the second-most fan votes for guards in the Eastern Conference.[119] On April 9, Wade played his last home game in Miami, scoring 30 points.[120] In his final game the following night, Wade recorded his fifth career triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.[121][122]

On January 7, 2020, the Heat announced that Wade's No. 3 jersey would be retired on February 22.[123]

Wade is active in encouraging youth to develop their talents as seen in this talent search at the Chicago Theatre.

Wade is well known for his philanthropic involvement. In 2003, he founded The Wade's World Foundation, which provides support to community-based organizations that promote education, health, and social skills for children in at-risk situations.[170] He hosts a variety of community outreach programs in Chicago and South Florida.[170] In 2008, he announced his partnership with former teammate Alonzo Mourning's charitable foundation and co-hosted ZO's Summer Groove, an annual summer event.[171][172] On December 24, 2008, Wade purchased a new home for a South Florida woman whose nephew accidentally burned down the family home.[173] In addition, Wade donated furnishings, clothing and gifts to the family.[173]

Wade giving a present to a U.S. Army reservist during a 2009 pregame ceremony

After breaking his own Miami Heat single-season scoring record, Wade gave the jersey he wore in that night's victory to 8-year-old Michael Stolzenberg, an avid Heat fan who lost his hands and feet due to a bacterial infection.[174] Wade stated that he knew Stolzenberg previously and wished to add to his collection of Heat memorabilia.[174] Wade is known for visiting other sick children, usually in private to avoid the media spotlight.[174]

In September 2009, Wade donated money from his foundation to keep the Robbins, Illinois public library from having to shut down.[175] He handed library director Priscilla Coatney a $25,000 check in order to resurrect the building. In January 2010, Wade and Mourning co-founded The Athletes Relief Fund for Haiti",[176] which raised money to help the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In the three days after the fund began soliciting donations from athletes, Wade announced that the "Athletes Relief Fund for Haiti" had already raised over $800,000.[176] Wade stated, "I expected nothing less from my friends and colleagues in the sports community, our commitment to this cause knows no bounds, and we will continue to accept any and all donations throughout the days ahead."[176] Wade is also an avid supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and served as an Ambassador for their Hoops for St. Jude basketball initiative.[177]

Wade is a Christian and chose the number 3 throughout most of his career because it represents the Holy Trinity.[178][179] He tithes 10% of his salary to a church in Chicago.[10] His mother, Jolinda, strengthened her ties to Christianity in 2001 after years of drug problems. She served as a minister during her final prison sentence in 2002 and 2003. She was ordained as a Baptist minister in January 2007 and formed the non-denominational Temple of Praise Binding and Loosing Ministry in Chicago. In May 2008, Wade purchased a church building for his mother's ministry.[180]

In 2019, Wade appeared as a guest judge on season 14 of America's Got Talent alongside wife Gabrielle Union.[181] In 2021, it was said that Wade will be the host of The Cube, which is currently aired on TBS.

In July 2020, Wade tweeted in support of Nick Cannon, who was fired from ViacomCBS after making racist remarks and endorsing antisemitic conspiracy theories.[182] Following some backlash, Wade later deleted his tweet and clarified that he had expressed his support of "[Cannon's ownership of] the content and [the] brand he helped create", and affirmed that he has "zero tolerance for any hate speech."[183]