Wade’s second act to be determined
Former Richards, NBA star looking at options, including helping the village of Robbins
Up until Feb. 13 at Richards High School, it had been five years since I interviewed Dwyane Wade.
Much has happened in those five years since we talked during his summer camp at Lincoln-Way Central.
We had some catching up to do.
Wade was in town to give Richards students a first look at his documentary, “D. Wade: Life Unexpected.” You can watch it at 8 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.
Like I mentioned in my previous column, I haven’t watched the entire documentary, but I hope it clears up one misconception — that Wade was little more than an above-average basketball player at Richards who became a star at Marquette.
That’s woefully inaccurate. True, no one could have predicted Wade would become the fifth pick of the 2003 NBA draft by the Miami Heat.
Still, Wade was a remarkable talent at Richards who ranks among the top 5 players I’ve covered.
He was a baller. A player who could lift fans out of their seats by getting to the rim at will and finishing with a jaw-dropping dunk.
He didn’t have many college offers out of Richards, but those were different times.
If Wade were a senior right now, he would be the No. 1 player in Illinois.
No doubt.
Former Richards coach Jack Fitzgerald, witnessed Wade’s greatness on a daily basis.
“When I coached at Leo we had some really, really good players,” Fitzgerald said. “When the Leo guys and I would get together and talk about the best players I
Dwyane Wade speaks as Kobe Bryant is honored during last weekend’s NBA All-Star Saturday Night at the United Center. coached, they would always say, big grin. “I definitely developed ‘We know. Wade is the best.’ late. I played one year of AAU. My
“They knew. Beyond his skills, junior year, I started to grow and there wasn’t a challenge he didn’t learn the game. accept.” “Richards wasn’t a big-time
I asked Wade to clear up the basketball program, so we didn’t injustice regarding his high get a lot of attention, but that school career. drove me to want more.”
“I was all right,” he said with a OK. Enough with the humility,
I pleaded.
“I was as good as everyone else who I got on the basketball stage with,” he said.
No, he was better.
On the subject of the basketball stage, I asked Wade about his oldest son Zaire, a senior at Sierra Canyon in California — the same high school as LeBron James’ son, Bronny.
There’s considerable buzz that Zaire, a 6-foot-2 point guard, is being recruited by DePaul.
“Yes, DePaul is one of the schools we’re looking at,” Wade said. “We’re going to go on some visits.”
He then added a caveat every parent should follow regarding their child’s college destination.
“It doesn’t matter at what level of college,” Wade said. “I just want to see the joy in him when he plays.”
Sound advice.
Our interview eventually shifted to Wade’s second act in retirement. It’s a topic that has gained major attention since the death of Kobe Bryant.
Back when Wade was starting
his NBA career, he once told me how he wanted to help revitalize Robbins’ business district.
That comment, from a youth summer camp at Eisenhower, has always stuck with me.
Let me point out Wade has been incredibly generous throughout his career. The man has not forgotten where he grew up.
I asked Wade, who made nearly $200 million in his career, if he had given any thought to building an indoor basketball facility in Robbins — The D. Wade Center, if you will — that would allow kids from his hometown to develop their skills and help keep them off the streets.
The facility could create jobs and generate substantial revenue for a town in desperate need of it by hosting AAU national tournaments, perhaps becoming an economic anchor for Robbins.
Such an investment by Wade would possibly entice a hotel or restaurants to join in.
Talk about an amazing second act.
Wade, however, was evasive about such an investment.
“I have a lot of thoughts,” Wade said. “We’re doing a lot of things with my foundation. With the tragedy surrounding Kobe, you think even more about your legacy and what you leave behind. If that (D. Wade Center) makes sense, it will be part of my legacy.”
I believe it makes perfect sense. Dollars and cents.