In early February 2023, Zaire Wade was celebrating his 21st birthday with friends and family.
At one point during the day, he received a phone call presenting him with the opportunity to take the next step in his basketball journey. The Cape Town Tigers of the African Basketball League offered Zaire a contract for the 2023 season.
The son of NBA legend Dwyane Wade spent the 2021-22 season playing for the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League. But he was ready to take full advantage of the opportunity to play professional basketball on a different continent.
“That was a crazy day. I wasn't expecting a call that day,” Zaire told Fox News Digital.
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Cape Town Tigers' Zaire Wade takes a free kick during a match against SLAC on April 27, 2023 at the Dr. Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall. (Julien Bacot/NBAE via Getty Images)
Tigers head coach Rasheed Hazzard and the rest of the organization were impressed by Wade's performance the previous month.
“We went to the combine a few weeks before and I knew I had done my thing. And we had some in-person conversations with some teams, so I knew there was some interest, but nothing concrete until that day came. My dad and my coach, Coach Johnson, they were doing their due diligence behind the scenes… and they weren't letting me know too much (in the process). And once that day came, it was kind of a surprise. It was cool, but I just knew. The day had come. time to take the next step.”
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Wade, 22, has faced injury setbacks throughout his basketball career. He attended three different high schools and finished his high school career at Los Angeles' acclaimed Sierra Canyon High School for his senior year.
Wade teamed up with top basketball prospects Brandon Boston, Bronny James and Ziaire Williams during his career at Sierra Canyon. Boston played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats and was later drafted in the second round and subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Williams was a top-ten draft pick and is in his third season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
“It was a little unfortunate… two years in a row at Sierra (Canyon High School) and then obviously in the G League… my knee… and that one was a little more unfortunate because it was after I was in my peak a little after it was played (G League) Light. “I had some good performances and my knee gave out on a play against South Bay (Lakers).”
Former NBA player Dwyane Wade and his son Zaire Wade spend time courtside after a game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Las Vegas Aces at the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
In July, during a training session with his teammates, James fell to the ground inside USC's home basketball arena. The incoming freshman suffered cardiac arrest.
The James family later revealed that doctors had attributed the sudden cardiac arrest to a congenital heart defect. Bronny has since returned to the court, and Thursday night's home game against Utah marked his 17th appearance of the season.
Thorne is a wellness company that offers health testing and educational resources and offers complementary health products. According to the company's official website, Thorne seeks to “empower people to live healthier, longer through personalized scientific testing and solutions.”
“It was great, it was the first time I'd done something like this,” Zaire told Fox News Digital when asked about the opportunity to team up with his father to help launch Thorne.
Sierra Canyon School guard LeBron James Jr (0) and teammate Zaire Wade against Millennium High School during the 2019 Hoophall West basketball tournament at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 7, 2019 . (Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports)
“We always used to talk about how the future could have us partnering (on) something that would be beneficial to both of us. (Especially partnering on) something that we could use in our daily routines and in our daily lives. (Dwyane Wade) was already in the Thorne family first. And once I was introduced to it, there was already kind of a natural connection because I was already starting to look into it my senior year.”
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Zaire said he made the decision to team up with his father, a basketball Hall of Famer, relatively easily.
“Once we saw there was an opportunity for both of us to partner with them… it was a no-brainer. It's great to see how (my dad) approaches and takes on the business.”
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