Wade, Dwyane << dwayn or duh WAYN >> (1982-…), was one of the most exciting players in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. Wade, who stands 6 feet 4 inches (193 centimeters) tall, played guard. He became famous for his athletic skills and acrobatic shots.
The Miami Heat selected Wade as the fifth player in the first round of the 2003 NBA draft. Wade led the NBA in scoring for the 2008-2009 season with an average of 30.2 points a game. He was also an outstanding defensive player and was named to the NBA All-Defensive second team for the 2004-2005, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 seasons. Wade starred on the United States national team that won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games.
Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr., was born on Jan. 17, 1982, in Chicago. He was a star high school player in Oak Lawn, Illinois, and then enrolled at Marquette University. Wade was academically ineligible for the 2000-2001 season at Marquette but was an All-American in 2002-2003.
Wade turned professional after his junior year at Marquette. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie team in 2004. Wade helped lead the Heat to the NBA championship in 2006. He was named Most Valuable Player of the finals after averaging 34.7 points in the six-game victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Wade joined teammates LeBron James and Chris Bosh in leading Miami to the NBA title in 2012. He helped the Heat win a second consecutive NBA championship in 2013. Wade played for the Chicago Bulls during the 2016-2017 season and then joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2017-2018 season. Cleveland traded Wade to Miami in February 2018. In September 2018, he signed a contract to play with the Heat for the 2018-2019 season.
Wade retired as a player at the end of the 2018-2019 season. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
