It’s often tough being the child of an NBA legend, especially when the spotlight burns brighter than the actual opportunity. See how Bronny James was scrutinized as he didn’t fit the definition of King’s play for many. Now, for 23-year-old Zaire Wade, the shadow of his father, Dwyane Wade, isn’t what’s held him back—it’s something much simpler. Patience. “They don’t have it,” Wade admitted while talking about the current generation. “Like, my son wanted to be in the NBA at 18. And he expected that. He has no patience.” Still, Wade didn’t leave his son to figure it all out alone. In fact, he took Zaire back to his roots—5901 South Prairie. They didn’t even walk inside, but the photo they took standing outside spoke volumes. That wasn’t a tourist moment; it was a lesson. “I would love for them to walk through it,” Wade shared.
However, life didn’t exactly follow the storybook script. After a short stint with the Salt Lake City Stars in the G-League and an international run with Cape Town Tigers in the Basketball Africa League, Zaire re-entered the G-League draft in 2024, only to go unpicked again. Yet, instead of fading into the background, Zaire made a bold move. He sent out his basketball resume, making it clear he’s still chasing that NBA dream.
So when the 1st Round Potential podcast host asked what he’d tell an NBA scout or coach, Zaire didn’t hold back. “I think first and foremost, like I’m just, I play with an edge. Like, you know how they say about the heat culture, how they really look for guys who, who kind of play with their underdog mentality. And, you know, I think it’s part of my journey has been for a reason,” he said.
And just like that, Zaire’s hunger became the headline. “Why God has put me in this position so I could be more hungry and play just with that? You know, with, with the edge that most guys are too cool to relax, to go and play for nine days,” he said.
Not only that, he believes he’s ready now. “So that will alone separate me, just like my style that way. And then and then everything else I bring. Like, I know it’s the little things that they say, but that’s what they said. They look for like guys who show up. Who’s who’s early and who leaves out late? Who’s like things of that nature that I can control? I can control all that to be consistent with it.”
However, recently, Zaire even showed some glimpses of these.
Dwyane Wade’s son Zaire shows off impressive dunking ability
Back in 2021, things were just starting to line up for Zaire Wade. The 6’3” guard got picked 10th overall by the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G-League Draft. It felt like a big step forward until it all came crashing down just 12 games in. A brutal knee injury benched him for the rest of the season, throwing a wrench into his plans. But to his credit, he didn’t let that moment define him. Zaire kept grinding, determined to make his way back.
Then came the long road. Zaire packed up and played overseas, trying his hand at two different leagues across two continents. That hustle led him back to the G-League draft in October last year. Unfortunately, the comeback didn’t stick. He went undrafted again. But instead of fading into silence, Zaire’s been doing what most hungry players do in 2025, posting receipts on Instagram. His feed has basically turned into a living training montage.
And recently? He dropped a highlight that had fans pausing their scroll. First, a smooth dribble setup led into a clean finish, eerily similar to LeBron’s cold-blooded game-winner against Toronto in 2018. Then came the main course: a thunderous right-hand dunk that screamed confidence. The caption? “it’s a lot weighin’ on my shoulder, I ain’t ever gon fold up -ENJOYTHETRAFFIC.” A little poetic, a little gritty—and him.
Of course, being Dwyane Wade’s son comes with its own pressure. People remember him hooping alongside Bronny James at Sierra Canyon. And now that Bronny’s headed to the Lakers, the comparisons and critiques haven’t exactly cooled off. Still, Zaire looks locked in. His path isn’t smooth, but as his dad would say, he’s learning to enjoy the traffic.
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