As Dwyane Wade worked through the process of compiling his photographic memoir that was released Tuesday under the simple title of “Dwyane,” the Miami Heat icon wanted to make sure that it portrayed his story beyond basketball.
His 15 seasons in South Florida, Wade told the Sun Sentinel, ultimately were as much about community as court.
To that end, the moments captured by longtime personal photographer Bob Metelus included several across the South Florida landscape, arguably none more touching or profound than his March 7, 2018 visit to Stoneman Douglas High School, mere weeks after a gunman opened fire on the campus, killing 17 and wounding another 17.
“I felt,” Wade wrote in his book, “it was my responsibility to be there for a community in need.”
As he prepared for the release of his book, Wade said during a private moment that moments such at that, even beyond his three NBA championships, shaped his growth into the 39-year-old father, husband, entrepreneur, broadcaster and activist he is today.
“First of all,” he said, “it was important that this was not just a basketball book, because my life is not just basketball. And so, I tried to go through and find important moments in my life, important people in my life. And the Parkland moment was an important moment in my life. I think it was an important moment in our community, and it will continue to be.”
In the wake of the Parkland tragedy, Wade learned that one of the slain youths, 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver, was buried in Wade’s No. 3 Heat jersey.
That sobering moment, too, is addressed by Wade in the book, in a section titled, “Parkland 17 Joaquin Oliver.”
“It was emotional, on so many levels,” Wade said, voice somber as he spoke. “On one hand, you understand the joy that you brought someone through your play. But, also, too, it’s bigger than the player, it has to be as a person. So you understand you have a bigger impact.
“It was a weird feeling. It’s a feeling of honor, of someone thinking of you in that way. When I got a chance to speak to Joaquin’s mother and father, sister, I’m thanking them for allowing him to be buried in my jersey. But on the other hand, that was a tough time. I was just glad my family, my mom, my sister, we had an opportunity to get to know the family, to be more than just a jersey.”
Throughout the book are photographic remembrances of the iconic moments from Wade of teammates, coach, friends who have been part of a journey that included 13 All-Star berths, a league scoring championship, All-NBA, All-Defensive and All-Rookie nods, as well as those Heat championships in 2006, ’12 and ’13.
But it also is an acknowledgment of the community that bridged the life of the Chicago native and, now, Los Angeles celebrity.
“That bond that Miami has, for 21- through 37-year-old bond that I shared, it’s forever,” Wade said. “I always talk about there’s so many people in Miami that have been a part of my journey. I wish I could get ’em all in a room and talk about the stories and thank ’em all. So many people.
“So me, when I talk about Miami, I talk about it with so much pride. But, at the same time I talk about it as a big, important chapter in my life. That chapter ended at 37, for now, but you never know what’s going to happen next. So that’s all. It’s just giving homage, it’s really paying homage to a city that protected me, that covered me, that loved me through it all. And at the end of the day, that love and that relationship is always there.”
