It may be a tough pill to swallow, but Dwyane Wade’s time in the NBA has come to an end. Throughout his sixteen season tenure as one of the most popular players of the current era, Wade has amassed enough accolades to punch a direct ticket to Springfield while perfectly assuming the roles of franchise cornerstone, second-option superstar, and global ambassador. Truth is, his road to glory wasn’t exactly spelled out as it was so clearly for LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, his fellow draft mates and close pals. Top college programs weren’t recruiting due to poor ACT scores, and upon his entrance into the league, the weight of being overlooked and undermined repeated itself as some athletic brands didn’t even bother with shoe contract offers. Even the trials and tribulations of his personal life managed to outshine his on-court prowess, but he escaped it all with his signature cool, calm, and collected approach to the game and life.
This arduous climb to the top is exactly what exemplifies the philosophy of Way Of Wade. The thirteen-time NBA All-Star, who spent his entire career in Miami outside of short stints with his hometown Chicago Bulls and a surprise reunion with LeBron in Cleveland, can rest easy knowing that three Championship rings are there on his mantle in case he has a bothersome itch to return and prove something more. It’s poetic how much his track record with shoe companies mirrors his journey to greatness, so we honor Dwyane Wade in our latest installment of Retracing Steps as we go through the complete sneaker history.
