With the start of a new NBA season today, Dwayne Wade is back where he begun so many years ago, playing basketball in Chicago. Born and raised on the city’s southside, Wade’s homecoming is one of the biggest stories in a season packed with headlines.
In celebration of his “Coming Home,” Wade hosted a special event this past weekend in conjunction with the debut of his Li-Ning Way of Wade 5 “Coming Home” shoe. Nice Kicks took part in the festivities.
The day began on the southside at the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, where players from Wade’s World Foundation and Y&R (AAU program) competed in a Skills and Drills challenge. The players ranged from 15-20 in age, and were all out to beat Dwyane’s NBA Skills Challenge time of 26.1 seconds. Several did. After the competition, in which Wade was in attendance, he spoke with the kids and answered questions about why he decided to return home, how he plays through adversity and his favorite dunks.
Later that evening, at a private event at Joy District in downtown Chicago, Wade, along with his family, friends, and several influencers, took part in a special dinner that was highlighted by remarks from one of Dwyane’s brothers and his former high school coach, Jack Fitzgerald, now a scout for the Miami Heat. Coach Fitz shared stories of Wade as a high schooler, their NBA Draft night experience, and all that Wade has done in both the Miami and Chicago communities.
Take a look at a few highlights from the event below and stay tuned for more on Dwyane Wade and the WoW 5 as the NBA season gets underway alter today.
