The “Jordan effect” can be seen in many basketball stars. Take Kobe Bryant, who has adopted Jordan’s relentless drive, LeBron James, who has used Jordan’s success as the benchmark for his career, and none other than Dwyane Wade. For years, Wade has held Jordan as his favorite player, but here’s the plot twist: In a recent video on his YouTube channel, he revealed a new favorite. It’s not a name most would expect.

During the video, Wade proudly shared that his son, Zaire Wade, is his favorite player today. This revelation surprised fans, as Zaire, unlike his father, hasn’t broken into the NBA. Instead, Zaire is carving his path in the basketball world. “It’s cool being able to be on this side as a dad and to see this kid on this journey. You know what I mean like it’s a journey and he’s 22 years old and a lot if us we like, dang how old is he? he feels like he’s older, cause he’s mature, you know what I mean in his appearance but also too like we have been watching him and following him for so long.” He said in his reasoning.

It’s not the first time Wade has confessed this. “I always tell Z, I said Z you’re my favorite basketball player and he might not understand like Jordan was my favorite basketball player, he don’t play anymore,” Wade further in the video.

Very few can match Michael Jordan’s career stats. Through 15 seasons, Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game, six rebounds, and 5.3 assists. However, his career field goal percentage of 49.7 percent proved his precision on the court. More than the stats, however, Jordan’s impact was defined by his mindset, exemplified in game-winning moments like “The Shot” against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s no wonder Wade held him in such high regard for so long. “My G.O.A.T has always been Michael Jordan. Look at the way I played. I played a lot like (Jordan). I tried to emulate Michael Jordan,” said Wade during an interview with Yahoo Sports.

However, it can be speculated that fatherhood changed his perspective on who he views as a “favorite.” Despite remaining undrafted in the NBA, Zaire Wade has shown resilience and skill in the basketball world. After playing at Sierra Canyon High School, Zaire joined the Salt Lake City Stars in 2021, the NBA G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, and then went on to play in the Basketball Africa League in 2023 for the Cape Town Tigers team, where he averaged 9.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG and, 4.8 APG. His recent stint with any basketball organization was back in April when he joined the Macau Black Bears of The Asian Tournament. “The player I get excited to see more than anybody is Z-Wade,” said Wade in his video.

This shift in Wade’s favorite player reveals the depth of his relationship with Zaire and the pride he has in watching his son pursue his dreams. Although Zaire may not reach the heights of Jordan or even his father, Dwyane Wade’s endorsement highlights a different kind of greatness — one rooted in resilience, character, and the bond between father and son. However, even after referring to Jordan as his GOAT, there was one time when he lauded another player for shaping him in the NBA.

When Dwyane Wade spoke highly of Michael Jordan’s rival

For Dwyane Wade, Michael Jordan was the ultimate icon, a player whose influence reached far beyond the court. Yet, as Jordan retired from the game and Wade’s own NBA dreams grew, another player began to capture his attention, and surprisingly, it was Jordan’s former rival.

During an interview with the New York Times, Wade had openly shared that while Jordan was his first favorite, Allen Iverson’s game and fearless style profoundly impacted him as a young player. “Dwyane Wade: Michael Jordan was my favorite player. But as I was growing up as a kid, as Michael Jordan decided to retire from the game, Allen Iverson became the hero of our culture…Allen Iverson gave me the image of how it looks like, how it could be done coming from the broken community that I came from. So I want to give him his flowers in front of the world because he deserves it,” said Wade during the interview.

Wade also shared that Iverson was the reason he chose Number 3 as his jersey number. Known for his lightning-quick crossover, Iverson famously “crossed up” Jordan in 1997, a defining moment in NBA history that showcased his confidence in going up against a legend whom Wade idolized. Iverson’s impact on Wade reflects the legacy of a player whose influence reached far beyond just stats, inspiring a new generation of stars.