NBA players often times struggle to find something after retiring. That was a fear Dwyane Wade was open about. But at the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award ceremony, he was a renewed person. He owes it to his daughter, Zaya. The newly minted 17-year-old and her dad were getting honored for their contributions to the LGBTQ+ community as they launched a new resource for trans youth, Translatable. With everything this inspiring father-daughter duo is doing, D-Wade keeps it lowkey and proves it’s not some storm of life others make it out to be.

Addressing the scrutiny and noise Zaya and the Wade fam are subjected to, D-Wade said, “I think people feel that because I have a trans daughter that I had this traumatic experience. Zaya has been Zaya since day one. Nothing has changed in a sense of how Zaya shows up.”

Yet the rising fashion superstar has done something remarkable before her 17th birthday on May 29. With support from her dad and the family, Zaya has initiated a digital platform to provide LGBTQ+ people a safe space to express themselves. On Translatable, young people can submit content – anything from poetry to photography or even general thoughts – as an outlet. Zaya herself and D-Wade will contribute regular content to the site.

Giving others a safe space is meaningful to Zaya who holds herself with poise through all the hate spewed at her since she came out at 12 years old. Translatable had been in the works since she was 14. Dwyane, with Zaya’s siblings, bonus mom Gabrielle Union, and the extended fam have been her biggest support, further extending the love for those in need of it.

For the work for the community, D-Wade was presented the award at Miami. He however said it’s a family honor because Zaya has brought them together in this. The 3x champion has not been free of the commentary too. Some paint him as an athlete dad whose hopes and dreams were crushed. He very easily dispelled those misconceptions at this award night.

D-Wade enjoys a new purpose after basketball

In a moving speech, Wade recalled the childhood anecdote when his mother told him, “Your life is bigger than basketball.” It was an appalling idea to young Dwyane whose reaction was, “What is wrong with you, lady?” But he had the sense to not say it to her face or he wouldn’t have lived to play 16 NBA seasons, retire in 2019, and became a transformative icon for social justice and LGBTQ+ rights.

In his post-NBA career, he’s stepped up his advocacy driven by wanting to make a safe space for Zaya. At such time when he speaks to other parents in his position, “I realize my life is bigger than basketball. So, I have to thank my daughter, Zaya for making my life bigger than basketball.”

After accepting the award on May 23, the proud dad was in birthday mode. Apart from sharing the best memories of Zaya, he gave a glimpse into her amazing party which is giving us FOMO.