Since retiring from the NBA, Dwyane Wade has been making big business moves. From part-ownership of the Utah Jazz and Chicago Sky to co-owning Real Salt Lake, The Flash has built a $170 million empire. Add in ventures like Wade Cellars, Proudly, and even NFTs, and it’s clear he’s been just as active off the court as he was on it. But despite all his smart investments, there’s one opportunity he missed—one that Stephen Curry recently jumped on.
On March 11, Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, made a major announcement Curry joined “the Unrivaled Investor family.” While Curry seized the chance, Wade let it slip through his fingers. It turns out he had the same opportunity but didn’t take it.
“When I first found out about it, Napheesa [Collier] reached out to me and actually asked me to be an investor in the league,” Wade revealed on his podcast. But at the time, he wasn’t convinced. “I didn’t know what it was. So I did not invest in the league. I had just invested in the WNBA league.”
That decision has left Wade with mixed feelings. On one hand, he understands the limits of his financial commitments. “One, I’m a retired player. My money only going on the stretch so far. You know what I’m saying?” But on the other hand, he can’t help but feel a little regret. “I go back and I’m like, damn, I wish I would have invested in the league early on. I just didn’t know a lot about it.”
But now, as Unrivaled is gaining traction, Wade is waiting for a second chance. “I’m looking for the next round because I want to be a part of this, not just this one location, but where the game is going to grow,” he said.
Why Dwyane Wade can’t get enough of Unrivaled?
Dwyane Wade has built his legacy in the traditional 5-on-5 game. So where does this unexpected appreciation come from? Turns out, it all goes back to his early days at Marquette. In one of his podcasts, Wade recalled his first real experience with 3-on-3 basketball during a practice session in 2000.
“I was young… So I came in with three or four other guys who was the same way. We play 5-on-5 versus the veteran guys that was there,” Wade shared. Confidence was sky-high. He and his fellow freshmen thought their athleticism could overpower the veterans. But reality had other plans.
“We thought we were better than the guys that were starting. They put us in a half court, 3-on-3… And they tore our a–up,” Wade admitted. “We didn’t know what to do… You got a great pick and roll person. What do you do now? All right, we going to put two on the ball? Are we going to go under? Like, we don’t really know how to get over picking rolls. It exposes you…”
That’s when he realized this wasn’t just a smaller version of the game—it was an entirely different challenge. Unlike 5-on-5, where teams can settle into a rhythm, 3-on-3 is all about speed. The 12-second shot clock leaves no time to think—players must react instantly. It’s not about endurance; it’s about quick bursts, positioning, and adapting on the fly.
And defensively? There’s no hiding. Just you, your opponent, and way too much space to cover. Wade learned these lessons the hard way, and maybe that’s why he respects the format so much now.
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