We shouldn’t be surprised when a star player intertwined with the fabric of the city suddenly tears himself away and joins another club. LeBron did it in 2011. Kevin Durant, although not from OKC, moved on to greener pastures in Golden State. But Wade seemed like a Miami lifer until the franchise essentially pushed him out with lowball offers during this whirlwind of an offseason that saw massive dollars thrown around left and right. In a surprising move, the Dwyane Wade era in Miami has come to a close as the three-time champion now joins the Chicago Bulls backcourt. It makes plenty of sense for Wade, who grew up in Chicago idolizing Jordan and the Bulls, but the future remains unknown given Wade’s age and inevitable decline. Thirteen seasons in Miami has produced a lot of memories for Wade, but in sneaker circles, it’s his diverse sneaker portfolio that will be the lasting legacy.
Above: Dwyane Wade at the 2004 Rookie Challenge
The Converse Era
Dwyane Wade stepped foot into the NBA as the fifth overall selection in the 2003 NBA Draft. That class of athletes is arguably the best in the history of the NBA, with LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh also entering the league at the same time. While LeBron locked down a massive deal with Nike and Melo got his with Jordan Brand, Wade signed on to be one of the young ambassadors of the Converse basketball brand, and for the first six seasons of his career, Wade rocked the historic brand in a series of models and signature shoes.
Above: Dwyane Wade at the 2006 NBA Finals
Wade quickly emerged as one of the best young Shooting Guards in the NBA, but what steered his career to greatness was Miami’s acquisition of Shaquille O’neal. The dominant center, who was beginning his slow decline, paired perfectly with Wade; in 2006, they reached the NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in six games. Wade was named the Finals MVP while wearing the memorable Converse Wade 1 signature shoe, and in the following years Converse released the Wade 2 and Wade 3.
Above: Ad For The Converse Wade 2
Above: Dwyane Wade’s Converse Shoes For 2008 Olympics in Beijing