‘Forced’ to Give Up on LeBron James-Carmelo Anthony Dream, Dwyane Wade Once Chose 16YO Daughter Over ‘Reunion’ Hopes

It’s established that Dwyane Wade is #DadGoals. He’s always had his children’s backs and supported them through thick and thin. His support is loudest when it comes to his eldest daughter, Zaya Wade. At only 16 years old, Zaya has become revolutionary. But it came with its fair share of challenges. Wade confessed that being there for Zaya also meant changing his own pre-existing expectations and dreams. He’s done that anyway because Zaya came before his dreams.

One dream that D-Wade had to let go of was living his basketball dreams vicariously through Zaya. He made this honest disclosure before Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay podcast.

Dwyane Wade altered his dreams for his girl

Zaya Wade came out as transgender in 2020 when she was 12. From the get-go, she’s had her family’s support, including bonus mom Gabrielle Union. Dwyane Wade is her biggest champion and he went above and beyond for her. He told Shannon Sharpe that accepting Zaya’s identity also meant changing his expectations.

Wade once dreamed of Zaya following in his footsteps to the hardwood floor. After retiring from the NBA, the hall-of-famer wanted to be an NBA dad alongside LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.

“I have Zaya. LeBron has Bryce. Melo has Kiyan. All within a 2-3 week span,” Wade said. “All our kids gonna grow up hooping together. ‘Oh we on! Boy we gonna have 3 babies! We on!’” Wade admitted planning someone else’s life like that was bound to fail.

Wade retired in 2019 and Zaya came out the following year. Wade put his dreams of Zaya playing basketball aside and focused on her mental health and safety. The family would even leave Florida, where The Flash is a three-time NBA champion, and move to California so she’d be in a tight-knit LGBTQ+ community.

And his second generation of hoops dreams is not entirely lost. Wade’s older son, and Zaya’s eldest brother, Zaire Wade is a basketball player. The 21-year-old last played in Africa and was in the NBA G-League. He also joined his dad and Udonis Haslem to promote D-Wade’s sneaker collection.

READ MORE: Driven by Fear After 21YO Son’s Birth, Dwyane Wade Shattered the Mirage of Tony Parker’s 1 Wish

The Miami Heat star is not bitter about Zaya. He has learned that it’s her journey to figure out. And she’s doing that spectacularly.

Zaya is still Dwyane Wade’s baby

Zaya has the hoops talent. But she swapped the court for the runway. After successful fashion week appearances, she’s one of the main models for Miu Miu’s latest campaign. She’s carved her space in the fashion business and is an inspiring transgender rights activist. Her family has been her greatest cheerleaders. However, Dad Flash has a special place.

She called her dad her inspiration for all he’s done for her. Dwyane is not only standing up for Zaya but also becoming a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. He told Sharpe that though he adjusted his expectations around her, Zaya is still the same to him.

“A lot of people like to talk about Zaya’s transition, but to me, Zaya hasn’t transitioned into anything,” he said. “She’s but a kid, and now becoming a young adult. I’ve watched her go through life. There hasn’t been any transition for us.”

This father-daughter dynamic has touched many hearts. Even though Wade’s hoops dreams didn’t go his way, Zaya’s continuing his legacy of inspiring.

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