Last year in October, Dwyane Wade celebrated his wife Gabrielle Union’s birthday in style. The day was marked by the Miami Heat unveiling a statue for Wade, but the NBA icon still found a way to give Union a perfect birthday celebration. Hence, when Wade’s big day arrived on January 17, Union made sure to return the favor, showing a lot of love on social media and paying tribute to the NBA icon.

On Friday, Union shared a quote from Wade on her Instagram Story, in which he had talked about spending more time with his family. “I see myself retiring from the NBA to spend time with my wife and kids. Also retiring as one of the greatest to play the game,” the quote read. Union captioned the post, “It’s my baby’s birthday!!!! @dwyanewade.”

On Monday, she shared glimpses of the extravagant celebration on Instagram. From a stunning setup to radiant smiles, the party seemed to have it all. Union captioned the post perfectly, saying, “reminder: count the blessings, cherish the moments, love the ones who make it all worthwhile ♥.” But one post, in particular, caught the eyes—a heartfelt video of her speech.

“Everything that you’ve become and everything that you’ve ever dreamed of is coming true. You’re manifesting it through your heart and through your soul and all the good energy that you pour into other people, it’s manifesting and you deserve it. And I love you. Cheers,” Union said. In the clip, Wade’s face said it all—emotional, grateful, and completely captivated by her words.

Union also posted the touching moment on her Instagram story. “Whew we all needed to lay eyes on each other, shed a tear and give some good hugs,” she wrote captioned it.

Of course, Gabrielle has a habit of making every birthday unforgettable. For his 39th, she gifted him a 1988 Mercedes-Benz SL, prompting Wade to exclaim, “Damn, baby, this is nice!” But this time, she chose to be honor her husband in a special way. This also brings into picture, the commitment Wade and Union made over last year’s holidays of ditching lavish gifts for a meaningful experience.

“Gab and I have learned it’s not about the price tag or going over the top with gifts. It’s about making it meaningful, something that speaks to who we are as a couple,” Wade told E!News. “We try to focus on experiences. It’s about creating memories, not just unwrapping a box. At the end of the day, it’s the thought and love behind the gift that counts. That’s how we keep it special every year.” 

Having been married since 2014, the couple has been through life’s trials and turbulations together. Just three years after the marriage, Union opened up about her infertility issues in her book, We’re Going to Need More Wine. She revealed that she had experienced “eight or nine miscarriages” as a result of a uterine condition called adenomyosis. A year later, after years of infertility struggles, Union and Wade welcomed their first and only child together— Kaavia James—into the world via surrogate.

The couple has continued to stay strong together Union being by Wade’s side when he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in August 2023. In his acceptance speech, he thanked Union for “making our house a home.”

Meanwhile, continuing with the birthday celebrations, Gabrielle Union also gave fans a glimpse into Wade’s extraordinary world by sharing a series of 15 photos and videos on Instagram. “Having a front row seat to your evolution as a man, a husband, father, businessman, friend, commentator, public speaker, Oscar-nominated producer, podcast host, team owner, and even as a neighbor has been nothing short of wondrous,” she wrote.

She also shared a post referencing Wade’s Oscar nomination at the 2024 Academy Awards writing, “42 brought an Oscar nomination. I cant wait to see what 43 brings!!” Notably, Wade was nominated in the Best Documentary Short category at Sunday night’s 2024 Academy Awards for his work as an executive producer on “The Barber of Little Rock.”

Union’s tribute and heartfelt words for Wade are no surprise, given how the 3x NBA champion has shown his love for his wife over the years. Last year, when Union turned 52, Wade threw a surprise party for her just hours before he was honored by the Miami Heat with his statue.

Dwyane Wade went all out for his “queen”

Dwyane Wade chose to surprise Gabrielle Union with a surprise 52nd birthday party at Miami hot spot Casadonna on October 27. Since she celebrates her birthday two days later, Wade’s gesture left Union surprised and shocked.

“Even though the weekend was about Dwyane, he still found a way to celebrate his queen,” an insider exclusively told Page Six. It further revealed, “Gabrielle was completely surprised when she walked in to find 40 friends and family ready to celebrate her right before her husband was about to have one of the biggest moments of his life.”

Wade and Union continue to show why they remain as strong as ever, prioritizing each other as their navigate journey and the romance isn’t ending anytime soon!