About Me
Early life
Dwyane Wade was born in the Southside of Chicago, Illinois to Dwyane Sr. and Jolinda Wade. He cites one of his older sisters, Tragil, as the individual most responsible for his childhood upbringing and for steering him in the proper direction.[1] His parents divorced and he lived with his father and stepmother in Robbins, Illinois during his childhood.[2] As a child growing up in the Chicago area Wade idolized former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan,[3][4] and has said he patterns his game after him.
Wade attended H. L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn.[1] He did not see a lot of playing time his sophomore year as his stepbrother, Demetris McDaniel, was the star of the team.[5] Wade grew four inches in the summer before his junior year and proceeded to average 20.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.[6] Wade then averaged 27.0 points and 11.0 rebounds his senior year, and led his team to a 24–5 record.[6] They advanced to the title game of the Class AA Eisenhower Sectional,[6] during the season he set school records for points (676) and steals (106) in a season.[6]
Wade was recruited by only three schools — Marquette University, Illinois State and DePaul University as a result of academic problems.[7][8]
College
Wade played college basketball for Marquette University in Milwaukee. In Wade's first year at Marquette he did not play because of academic problems.[9] When Wade became eligible his sophomore year (2001–2002) he led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 17.8 ppg, and also contributed averages of 6.6 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists per game.[10] Marquette finished with a 26–7 record,[6] the school's best record since the 1993-1994 season.[6] In 2002–03, Wade led Marquette in scoring again with 21.5 ppg,[10] and Marquette won the school's first and only Conference USA championship with a 27-6 record. Wade then led the Golden Eagles to the Final Four, the school's first appearance in the Final Four since winning the 1977 national championship. After the season Wade was named to the Associated Press All-America Team becoming the first Marquette player since 1978 to do so.[6]
One of Wade's more memorable collegiate moments came in the 2003 Midwest Regional Final in the NCAA Tournament in Minneapolis. Against heavily favored, top-ranked and top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats, Wade recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.[11] His triple double was just the third ever in NCAA Tournament history.[11] Wade's accomplishment helped lead Marquette over the Wildcats 83–69 and into the Final Four. Marquette finished the season ranked #6 in the AP poll, the school's highest ranking since the 1976-1977 season. Wade's strong play in the tournament caused his draft stock to increase significantly.[12] As a result, he elected to enter the 2003 NBA draft and forgo his senior year at Marquette.
On February 3, 2007, nearly three and a half years after his final collegiate game, Marquette retired Wade's jersey at halftime of their game against Providence. Although Marquette requires student-athletes to graduate prior to receiving jersey retirement honors, the University has made special exception for Wade based on his accomplishments since leaving Marquette.[13]
NBA career
Rookie season
Selected fifth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, Wade quickly emerged as a solid player on a relatively young Miami Heat team and averaged 16.2 points on 46.5% shooting to go along with averages of 4.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in his rookie season.[10] After a slow 5-15 start,[14] the Heat would gradually improve to finish 42–40 and make the playoffs.[15] He further distinguished himself with outstanding performances in the playoffs,[11] particularly against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. In the end, however, Wade's successful rookie season was somewhat overshadowed by the hype surrounding fellow rookies Carmelo Anthony and, in particular, LeBron James. Wade did earn unanimous selection to the NBA 2004 All-Rookie team,[11] and also finished third in rookie of the year voting (behind James and Anthony).[11] He also ranked in the top five among rookies in several major statistical categories, including second in field goal percentage, second in steals, third in scoring, fourth in assists, and fourth in minutes played.[11] In the playoffs Wade hit a game winning shot in Game 1 of the Heat's first round series against the New Orleans Hornets. The Heat won the series 4 games to 3 and advanced to the second round to face the top-seeded Indiana Pacers, whom they lost to in six games.
Before the 2004-05 season Shaquille O'Neal was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Heat, and owing to this the Heat were picked by many as title contenders.[16] Despite the added pressure of being on a team picked to contend for a title, Wade did not disappoint in his second season. He averaged 24.1 points on 47.8% shooting, to go along with averages of 6.8 assists, 5.2 rebounds,[10] and quickly emerged as a rising star in the league. He was elected to his first NBA All-Star Game in Denver, and came off the bench to score 14 points in the East's 125–115 win.[17] Compared to the previous year, the Miami Heat under Wade and O'Neal improved by 17 games, from a 42-40 record in the 2003-04 season, to an Eastern Conference-best 59–23 record in 2004-05.[10]
In the first round of the 2005 NBA Playoffs, Wade averaged 26.3 points, 8.8 assists, and 6.0 rebounds at 50% field-goal shooting,[11] as the Heat swept the Nets.[18] Wade performed extremely well in the second round as well by averaging 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists,[11] as the Heat swept the Wizards.[18] The Heat would go on to lose against the defending champion Detroit Pistons in 7 games during the Eastern Conference Finals. Wade scored 42 and 36 points in Games 2 and 3 respectively, despite playing with sinusitis, the flu,and a knee strain. He also suffered a strained rib muscle in Game 5 of the Conference Finals that kept him out of Game 6,[19] and limited him in Game 7. The Heat lost the series 4–3 after giving up a 3–2 lead,[20] and a lead in the final 3 minutes of Game 7.
In the 2005-06 NBA season, Wade was elected to his second All-Star Game. In the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, Wade made the game winning put-back off of the Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson's missed shot, to lead the East to a 122–120 victory over the West.[21] He finished the 2005-06 regular season averaging 27.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.95 steals per game.[10]
Against the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2006 NBA Playoffs, Wade shook off a few injuries that scared Heat fans, including a severely bruised hip in Game 5.[22] Returning late in the half, Wade resurrected his team by scoring 15 of his 28 points while suffering from intense pain, leading the Heat to the much-needed 3-2 series lead. After this, Wade successfully led his team to the 2006 NBA Finals, despite suffering from flu-like symptoms in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons.[23] He put up a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists in that game, including an 8-point flurry to close out the 3rd period that put the game out of reach.[23]
2005-06 NBA Finals
In his first trip to the NBA Finals, in which the Miami Heat faced off against the Dallas Mavericks, Wade had some of the more well known moments of his career. His performance in games three, four, and five, in which he scored 42, 36, and 43 points,[24][25] respectively, helped bring the Heat back from a 0–2 deficit to lead the series at 3 games to 2. Wade's Game 3 performance was especially memorable; Wade finished with 42 points (tying his career playoff high) and 13 rebounds (career high).[26] 15 of his 42 points came in the 4th quarter, in which the Heat erased a 13 point deficit over the final 6:34 with a 22–7 run which included a go-ahead jumper by NBA veteran Gary Payton that sealed the win.[27] The Heat went on to win Game 6, taking the series 4–2, and Wade was presented with the Finals MVP trophy. Wade had the third highest scoring average ever by a player in his first NBA Finals with 34.7 points per game.[28]
In the 2006-07 NBA season, Wade was elected to his third straight All-Star Game. Despite his play, the Heat struggled early in the season with injuries and were 20–25 on February 1, 2007.[29] However, with Shaquille O'Neal healthy and Pat Riley returning to the bench after undergoing hip and knee surgeries,[30] the Heat seemed poised to surge into the second half of the season.[31] However, during a game against the Houston Rockets on February 21, 2007, while attempting to steal the ball from Shane Battier, Wade dislocated his left shoulder and was assisted off the court in a wheelchair.[32] After the injury he was left with the decision to either rehabilitate the injury or undergo season-ending surgery.[33] On March 5, 2007, Wade announced that he would put off surgery and rehabilitate the shoulder with the intention of rejoining the team in time for the playoffs.[34]
On April 8, 2007, after missing 23 games because of injury, Wade returned in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Sporting a black sleeve to help protect his dislocated left shoulder, Wade recorded 12 points and 8 assists, in a 111–103 overtime loss.[35] He finished the regular season with averages of 27.4 points, 7.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game.[36]
In the 2006-07 postseason, Wade averaged 23.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game, as the Heat were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Chicago Bulls.[37] Following the playoffs, Wade underwent a pair of successful surgeries to repair his dislocated left shoulder and left knee. The knee ailment, commonly called "jumper's knee," will prevent Wade from joining USA Basketball in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament over the summer.[38]
[edit] United States national team Olympic medal record Men's Basketball Bronze 2004 Athens Olympics United StatesWade played on the bronze medal-winning 2004 US Olympics team with fellow NBA all-stars Tim Duncan, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony. The team competed in the 2006 World Championships in Japan, in which Wade averaged 19.3 points per game.[39] The team won a bronze medal, which disappointed many USA fans who had hoped for a return to the days of the original "Dream Team".[40][41]
Wade was named to the USA Men's Basketball National Team from 2006–2008. He will also compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; the team will also compete at the Tournament of Americas Olympic Qualifiers in 2007. Wade was named co-captain of the 2006 team, along with James and Anthony.[42]
[edit] Player profile
Wade plays the shooting guard position, but is also capable of playing point guard. On offense, he has established himself as one of the quickest and most difficult players to guard in the NBA.[43] Wade is able to get to the free throw line seemingly at will; he ranked first in free-throw attempts per 48 minutes in 2004–05. He has proven himself an unselfish player, averaging 6.4 assists per game for his career.[10] After winning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in 2006, Wade developed a reputation as one of the premier clutch players in the NBA.[44] David Thorpe, an athletic trainer who runs a training center for NBA players in the offseason, also cites Wade's developing post up game as one of his strengths.[45] "Watching Wade operate on the left block is literally like watching old footage of MJ (Michael Jordan)," comments Thorpe.[45] Thorpe goes on to say that Wade's best moves from the post are his turnaround jump shot,[45] double pivot,[45] and what Thorpe terms as a "freeze fake",[46] a pump fake Wade uses to get his opponent to jump, so that he can then drive around him to the basket.[46] The main weakness cited in Wade's ability is his lack of three-point range; he has averaged .251 on three-point field goal attempts for his career.[10] He is known for his ability to convert difficult lay-ups, even after hard mid-air collisions with defenders.[43] As crowd pleasing as his high-flying style of basketball may be, some have expressed concerns over the dangers of playing in this manner,[43] as Wade has already hurt his knees and wrists after mid-air collisions with larger players.
[edit] Off the court life
Wade is a devout Christian and chose the number 3 because it represents the Holy Trinity.[47] In addition, Wade tithes 10% of his salary to a church in Chicago.[4] He is married to his high school sweetheart Siohvaughn Funches, who was his first and only serious girlfriend. They currently reside in Pinecrest, Florida, and have two sons: Zaire Blessing Dwyane Wade (February 4, 2002) and Zion Malachi Airamis Wade (May 29, 2007).[2][48] The pair were able to maintain their relationship, despite Funches, who is a year older than Wade, leaving to enroll at Eastern Illinois University during Wade's senior year of high school.[2] In February 2002, the couple were married, and at the beginning of Wade's final year of college (Fall 2002), Funches transferred to Marquette.[2]
The Heat's 2005 NBA Playoff run and Wade's performances with Shaquille O'Neal hampered by injury, led to an explosion of media attention and rapid increase in Wade's popularity. During those playoffs, Wade's jersey became the top selling jersey in the league and remained so for nearly two years; he is currently number 2 in sales behind Kobe Bryant.[49] After the playoffs, he was featured on People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2005,[50] and following the success of the Heat's 2006 NBA Championship Title, named NBA's best dressed player by GQ Magazine.[51] The Heat's success and Wade's memorable performances during their 2006 title run, further elevated his status into the public's eye, and led to several appearances on talk shows, such as Late Show with David Letterman and Live with Regis and Kelly.[52]
Wade has proven himself a popular endorser and has a number of endorsement deals with companies such as Gatorade, Sean John, T-Mobile, and Topps.[53] He has a shoe contract with Converse; his shoe is named simply "The Wade."[54] Wade's nicknames include Flash, which was given to him by Shaquille O'Neal in reference to the Queen song "Flash" from the 1980 Flash Gordon movie,[55] and D-Wade.[56]
