‘Bigger Than Basketball': Budweiser Tribute Video Shows Five Lives Influenced by Dwyane Wade
"I am more proud of the man you have become than the basketball player," Wade's mom told him
By Andrew V. Pestano ••
Ahead of Dwyane Wade’s final regular season home game, Budweiser released an emotional tribute video about the lives he influenced.
The inspiring impact from Dwyane Wade's career stretched beyond the court. It reached the hearts of people.
Ahead of Wade's final regular season home game in Miami, Budweiser released an emotional tribute video about the lives he influenced.
Five people are featured in the video that mirrors Wade's season-long tradition of swapping jerseys with other NBA players.
1. The sister of longtime Wade fan Joaquin Oliver, who was killed in the Parkland school shooting:
"My brother Joaquin loved you from the beginning," she said. "You're not Wade the basketball player, legend – you're the human being that took the time and, on his own, wrote my brother's name on his shoe, and you cared."
In the swap, she gave him the basketball jersey Joaquin wore on his last championship game.
She wrote on the jersey: "Please don't forget my brother Joaquin."
Sports Connection
Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
"It was always my dream that I get the change to go to college, but we just didn't have the money," she said. "Without you and your full-tuition scholarship, none of this would have been possible."
In the swap, she handed him the cap and gown she wore on graduation.
3. A man from Miami who rose above his circumstances and steered away from the wrong path thanks to inspiration from Wade:
"A lot of the words that you've said hit a spark and kinda changed where I was going," he said.
In the swap, he gave Wade the blazer he wore for his first job interview.
On the blazer, he wrote: "Having you as a role model has made all the difference."
Getty Images
Dwyane Wade #3 and LeBron James #6 celebrate after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 to win Game Seven of the 2013 NBA Finals at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Getty Images
The Miami Heat selected Dwyane Wade with the 5th pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. Wade starred for Marquette but elected to forego his senior year to enter the draft.
Getty Images
Dwyane Wade takes the ball up court against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 16, 2003 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Wade immediately made an impact on the Heat his rookie year, helping the team make the playoffs and earning a unanimous selection to the 2004 NBA All-Rookie Team.
Getty Images
With the addition of Shaquille O'Neal for the 2004-2005 season, Dwyane Wade reached the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Detroit Pistons in Game 7.
Getty Images
Dwyane Wade, head coach Pat Riley and Shaquille O'Neal celebrate after the Heat won the 2006 NBA Finals after defeating the Dallas Mavericks 95-92 on June 20, 2006 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Wade was named the Finals MVP.
AP
After battling a knee injury in 2008, Wade came back stronger than ever in 2009, becoming the NBA's scoring champion.
Getty Images
Dwyane Wade #3 and LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat look on during a game against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Arena on November 22, 2010 in Miami, Florida. Wade was joined by his good friends LeBron and Chris Bosh for the 2010-2011 season, which ended with a loss in the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade holds the the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy and LeBron James holds his most valuable player trophy after Game 5 of the NBA finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, June 22, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 121-106 to become the 2012 NBA Champions.
Getty
The Big Three, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and James, pose with their 2012 NBA Championship rings.
Getty Images
Dwyane Wade #3 and LeBron James #6 celebrate after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 to win Game Seven of the 2013 NBA Finals at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Getty Images
Wade talks to an official in the first half of Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Toronto Raptors during the 2016 NBA Playoffs. The Heat lost the game and the series, and Wade signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Bulls in the offseason.
Getty Images
Wade waves to the crowd during the first quarter of the game between the Bulls and the Heat at American Airlines Arena on November 10, 2016. It was Wade's first game back in Miami after signing with Chicago, where he spent just one season before rejoining James in Cleveland.
NBC Washington
James and Wade during a game against the Heat at Quicken Loans Arena on November 28, 2017 in Cleveland. Wade was traded back to the Heat on Feb. 8, 2018.
Getty Images
Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat enters the game during the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at American Airlines Arena on February 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. It was his first game back with the team after the trade from Cleveland.
AP Photo/Ben Curtis
Wade began dating actress Gabrielle Union in 2009 and the couple married in 2014. Union has been a frequent presence at Heat games.
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat pose for a photo after exchanging jerseys, as Wade plans to retire at the end of the season, after a 108-105 Laker win at Staples Center on December 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Brian Witt
Steph Curry, Dwyane Wade exchange jerseys after Warriors-Heat game
AP
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade smiles after dunking against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA game Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Miami.
Marcus White
Dwyane Wade made an absurd buzzer-beating shot as the Heat beat the Warriors on Feb. 27, 2019.
4. A woman who Wade took shopping after she lost everything in a house fire before Christmas:
"It was one of the lowest points in my life," she told Wade. "We received a phone call 'Would you mind Dwyane Wade take you and the family on a shopping spree?'"
"It just meant the world to me that you were there for us at this time," she said. "You became our hero."
5. Wade's mother, Jolinda Wade:
She recounted the difficulties she and her family faced when she was imprisoned. However, Wade continued to support her despite the odds. He would later buy her a church so she could positively influence others herself.
She gave her son a custom purple shirt to represent royalty that features his iconic No. 3 jersey number that reads: "By Faith I Believe."
"I am more proud of the man you have become than the basketball player," Wade's mom says. "You are bigger than basketball."
