While stepping away from the NBA after 16 years hasDwyane Wadefeeling some mixed emotions, he couldn’t be more thankful for the support from his family — including the newest member, daughterKaavia James.
Two days after playing hisfinal game with the Miami Heatin Brooklyn, New York,the athlete opened upFriday onGood Morning Americaabout how special it was to have Kaavia and her mom, Wade’s wifeGabrielle Union, at hislast home game in Miamion Tuesday.
“I’ve been wanting a daughter my whole life,” said Wade, 37, who is also dad to three sons — Xavier Zechariah, 5,Zion Malachi Airamis, 11, andZaire Blessing Dwyane, 17 — and guardian to nephew Dahveon Morris, 17. (Zaire wasalso on hand at Tuesday’s game.)
“God didn’t give her to us until this moment, until this time, and it just was so fitting that I had an opportunity, in my career, with me carrying her. So if you see any pictures … ” Wade continued of Kaavia, adding proudlyof an adorable videoshowing the father-daughter duo sporting matching red outfits, “We dressed alike!”
Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty
Gabrielle Union and daughter Kaavia.Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty
“I’m just filled with so much gratitude. I’m filled with so much love and so much appreciation for the people who have supported me through this process,” Wade said.
Kaavia and Union, 46, enjoyed the game courtside alongside palsChrissy TeigenandJohn Legend. The stylish infant rocked a variety of bow headbands and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for the momentous occasion.
At one point, Wade stumbled backward mid-game into the laps of theCravings: Hungry for Moreauthor, 33, and “All of Me” singer, 40 —and the perfectly timed photohas since gone viral, prompting laughs from those involved.
In the image, Teigen’s face was scrunched as she leaned backward while Legend, who was holding a drink, had more of a grimace. Teigen later joked on Twitter that the image waslike “a renaissance painting”after theMiami Heraldtweeted at her toask if she wanted a copy.
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“Our hero. Bigger Than Basketball,” Union captionedan Instagram videothat featured Wade showing his young daughter a wall of photos displaying his career highs.
Teigen also shared footage from the game, including an emotional message from Wade as he addressed the crowd.
“It’s meant everything,” Wade said of his career with the Heat after the game,according to ESPN. “To be able to come here and be embraced, to find a home, to be able to grow. I think that’s the one thing. When I was on the court early on and Stan [Van Gundy] let me grow, as a player, to whether it was mistakes I made in life to whatever it was, this city has allowed me to grow.”
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade with daughter Kaavia.Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty
For his final game, against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, Wade put up a triple-double, logging 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists — and thanks to his playful teammates, hewent out with quite a splash!
While the now-retired basketball star was giving a post-game interview in Brooklyn, several of his fellow Heat stars came up behind him and tossed full Red Bull cups of what appeared to be water on the athlete.
Wade shared aphoto of the celebratory momentto Instagram, captioning the post, “What a ending … #onelastdance.”
source: people.com
