Dwyane Wade Reveals the One Thing He’d Tell His Younger Self About Life After Basketball
If there’s one thing almost all athletes have in common, it’s the identity crisis that hits when the game ends—the last time they step on the field, drain a perfect three-pointer, or hear the roar of the crowd chanting their name. Dwyane Wade is no different. After 16 years in the NBA, his retirement in 2019 left him feeling unanchored.
Sure, he had enough money to last a lifetime and brand deals that could carry him for years. But losing that feeling of purpose—the confidence that came with knowing he was one of the best every time he stepped on the court—wasn't easy. If there’s one thing he wishes he could’ve told himself about life after basketball? Be patient.
"I think in this chapter, in chapter three of my life, I've had to practice patience more than anything," he told Men's Journal. "You know, I played a sport where it's immediate satisfaction. I could score a bucket, and I'll immediately get the world, the crowd to roar, and I'd feel like the man. It doesn't work like that, not in this chapter."
Wade admits that one of the hardest parts of life after the NBA has been learning how to show up for himself, without the constant validation that used to come from roaring crowds and highlight reels. There’s no longer a stadium full of fans cheering his every move. Now, that motivation has to come from within.
He also mentioned that when you’re constantly stacking wins like he did throughout his career—he won three NBA championships during his time with the Miami Heat—real life can feel very different. Sure, he was no stranger to losing a game or two, but when he had fans calling him one of the greatest players of all time, it was a lot easier to push through the tough days.
"You've got to have patience through Ls, too," he adds. "It's easy to have patience when you're seeing wins. I can wait on another win. But how do you have patience when you get an L and another L and another L? You've got to have patience to make sure that you restore what you feel like your value is."