Only a few names in the hooping industry carry as much weight and legacy as that of Dwyane Wade’s. His illustrious career marked by championship rings and countless honors, has set the bar for what it means to be great in the NBA. And the basketball enthusiasts expected the same from his children. However, his son’s basketball journey has been anything but traditional. With Zaire Wade’s every move under tight scrutiny, Dwyane Wade recently offered a five-word message that might make things better for his son.

GTV Hoops, on Instagram, recently shared snippets of Zaire’s unique journey. The post noted how Zaire Wade, at just 19 years old, made the bold choice to skip college and dive straight into the G League with the Salt Lake City Stars in 2021. The post also detailed the other teams that Zaire has been a part of. And Dwyane Wade didn’t miss this post as he wrote in the comments, “Run your own race young 👑”

And Zaire seems to be in line with what his father wrote. During his time with the Cape Town Tigers in the BAL, Zaire averaged 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. In one of his best efforts, Zaire scored a high of 17 points in a close loss against the Ferroviário da Beira. During that game, he also registered 3 rebounds and 5 assists, shooting 66.7% from the field.

As of 2024, Zaire now plays in the ASEAN Basketball League for the Macau Black Bears, and the details of his contract are still unknown. At just 22, Zaire has already seen more of the basketball world than many players do in a lifetime. While many players follow the well-curated path from high school success to college fame before joining the NBA Draft, Zaire decided to carve out his path. And while doing that he came close to his dream of playing in the NBA yet it appeared too far.

Zaire Wade’s development in the G League

In the 2021 G-League draft, Zaire Wade was selected as the tenth pick by the Salt Lake City Stars, where his performance showed his potential as a young player. This team is the G-League affiliate of the Utah Jazz which is a team partially owned by Dwyane Wade. While playing for Salt Lake, he averaged 4.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game over 13 appearances. His role was primarily as a rotational player, providing support off the bench.

Although his contributions were mainly off the bench, he got valuable experience playing against tough competition. His shot rate was 36.2% from the field, with a three-point percentage of 36%. While these numbers might not appear ideal, his journey was cut short as he had to sit out the remainder of the season because of a shoulder injury.

As he continues to explore alternatives in foreign leagues, Zaire’s story reflects the broader growth of how young players are managing their careers.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.