NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade Makes History With His Podcast "The Why"

 NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade Makes History With His Podcast "The Why"

The former top player for the Miami Heat discusses his new show and how he developed his reputation off the court.

Dwyane Wade is widely considered as one of the best shooting guards in NBA history.

The Chicago native had a 16-year NBA career that included three titles, a Finals MVP, eight appearances on the All-NBA team, thirteen All-Star selections, three selections to the All-Defensive team, and an Olympic gold medal. Wade was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023 after being selected for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in October 2021.

Off the court, Wade owns shares in the Chicago Sky of the WNBA and the Utah Jazz. In addition, he was executive producer of the documentary The Redeem Team, which followed the American men's basketball team as they competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and took home the gold medal.

He's not stopping there, though. Wade's most recent endeavor is hosting his own podcast, "The Why," in which he has open discussions with celebrities from TV and movies, athletes, singers, and business owners. Pat Riley, Rick Ross, Carmelo Anthony, and many more are guests on the show.

Dwyane Wade: Because I have strong opinions, I miss having my voice heard on some issues. I enjoy having conversations about topics other than basketball. I enjoy discussing people and the lessons I have gained from them.The "The Why" podcast offers listeners the chance to delve into the experiences of others and get insight from them. We will hear about other people's experiences from a variety of backgrounds, listeners. They will be able to share some of their experiences with them, and you never know what insight someone may provide into what someone is really going through. I simply want to express my curiosity on "The Why," and ideally the listeners will be interested in embarking on a trip with me.

Wade: I think that's crucial. I have no idea why, but occasionally my name appears in the press. Even if I've never had a conversation with someone, they nonetheless have views about me. They have no idea how I perceive the world or how I think. I'm excited to do the same because, as an athlete, you have the chance to regain your voice and have a platform. I am excited to add a little more color to my identity, thoughts, and thought processes. I may have the opportunity to meet a lot of people who share my interests and from whom I can pick up knowledge.

Wade: Since there weren't as many shooters on the court when I played, the defense was probably tighter back then. That's probably the greatest difference I perceive. The defense is dispersed widely since there are five shooters on the floor right now. Players with one-on-one skills can shine because you can't help but watch someone as dynamic as Ja Morant when he goes one-on-one.Man, I could have played defense without any assistance if I had! [Laughs] You have other guys, I'm sure, wondering what they could have done in the absence of hand-checking or unlawful defense. Every generation will therefore say something along the lines of, "Do you know how much greater we could have been if I had that placed into our game? However, I'm just like, "Oh, look at all that space" as a fan [laughs].

Wade: When you're trying to accomplish something, you'll usually be by yourself. Many times, you have your loved ones and support system around, but when they depart, it's all on you. I'm proud of myself when I take a step back and consider my career and all that I have done. In the words of Snoop Dogg, "I want to thank me." I'm happy that I persisted in believing in myself.I'm proud of myself for not giving in to the things that are simple to give in to and for pushing through every day, no matter how challenging it may be. I suffered a great deal of injuries and was repeatedly told no. All I can say is that I'm happy I persisted.

Wade: Since we are narrators. I often remind people that our storytelling began long before the rest of the world was introduced to us. I had to convince myself, growing up in Chicago on 59th and Prairie, that I would make a fantastic NBA player. Since we are storytellers, we can now share our tales on podcasts or through production businesses.Now that many sportsmen are reclaiming their voices, it's the ideal moment for more of us to follow suit. Because all we know about other people is what other people tell us about them, I applaud the athletes who take the time to do it. Thus, hearing directly from the source is beneficial. It's fun for me.

Wade: Laughing Those are not missed by me. I would be ill if I had to play another game because my groin hurt so much this morning. It's chilly where I am in Chicago. I most definitely don't miss it because I couldn't conceive how to get up and move his body. But I suppose that the most important lesson I've learnt since retiring is that life goes on. When you're a youngster, you think winning a championship will solve everything and that you should play basketball for the rest of your life. However, those things pass really quickly. They are only there momentarily, and life carries on. Every morning I think to myself, "Okay, I gotta get to it." It makes no difference what I achieve. It concerns what I do now and, hopefully, what I construct in the future.