Dwyane Wade - Dwyane

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Heres a secret I learned a long time ago. The success I craved was always found in the work I was willing to put in. A lot of people first discovered who I was in the Elite Eight versus Kentucky in 2003. Everyone picked them to beat Marquette, and to be honest, I cant even be mad. Its hard to pick against a team that had won 26 games in a row, but it was our time. My time. Every once in a while we hear stories that give us all hope. Its when someone does something so incredible that no one saw coming or no one knew you were capable of. Its the story of the underdog.

Those long hours in the gym prepared me. Not just for Kentucky, but life. I didnt know what I was gearing up for. I just knew that whenever the time came Id be ready. Opportunities arent bills. They arent guaranteed to come around once a month. If I expected to be able to perform when the lights were brightest, I had to feel confident moving around in the dark. When a thousand jumpers felt like a thousand too little. The sting of sweat drenching my eyes. When the only soundtrack was the bouncing of the ball, the swish after a crisp jumper, and the squeaks from my shoes. If I never had a moment when I wanted to give up, I didnt work hard enough. It wasnt tough enough. It didnt hurt enough.

Confidence is the precursor to dominance. Before running onto the court, I always thought back to those moments in the summer in those hot-ass gyms with no lights with Gary Adams, my high school assistant coach, and the moments in my backyard when I would visualize playing with and against the greats. Or crashing to the concrete playing my dad when I was youngerseeing blood on the pavement, but understanding that what I obsessed over was on the other side of pain. Playing basketball for a living is in the past, but the lessons Ive learned along the way are forever. Be committed. Be the hardest worker. Lead by example. Adjust on the fly. Take responsibility. Stay hungry. Stay focused. Because before you know it, its showtime. Its no turning back from there. Either be great or be forgotten. Only one of those was an option for me.

Before every tip-off, I had the same routine. Id close my eyes and bow my head while the national anthem was played. That was my time to really be completely present in the moment. It was my chance to talk with God. I wont turn this into a sermon, but to even make it to the NBA is Gods will. To play 16 seasons and leave the game as one of its best players ever is nothing but Gods confidence in me to use my platform in the most impactful way. I feel I did thatand Im still doing it even in retirement.

Only the greats live up there. Under those lights you either SHINE or fold. And folding isnt how I was raised.

My career wasnt always easy, but I had long since learned nothing in life was. Im thankful for what the game of basketball brought to my life, my familys life, and how it allowed me to be connected to so many peoples lives along the way. So, if you were ever wondering what was going through my mind, thats it. The wins, the losses, the boos on the road, the chants of my name, every person wearing my jersey or my shoesthat all came with the blessing. How could I not say thank you for that?

All I ever wanted to do when I got to Miami in 2003 was leave a legacy that couldnt be replicated. Theres no magic formula, though. No matter how good the team around you is, you still have to do the work. All of it.

PRACTICE MAKES YOU UNSTOPPABLE

This is shortly after I signed with my hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, in the summer of 2016. Growing up idolizing those legendary Bulls squads, Id be lying to you if I said putting on that jersey wasnt a lifetime dream. All the go-to moves that Ive had over my basketball career were developed in the gym with no fans, no cameras (well, besides Bob capturing these moments), and no bright lights. The countless hours working on my floater, step back, post work, footwork, hitting clutch free throws, and defensive drills gave me the confidence for when the lights came on and I had to do it for real.

But more importantly, heres some free game. To every young player out there, take it and do what you will with it. You can never cheat the gameyou can only cheat yourself. Getting to the next level took thousands of hours working on my craft. There wouldnt be screaming crowds. There would only be me, alone in the gym.

TRAINING

Training is a long journey toward a far-off gain. I knew I couldnt get to where I ultimately wanted to be in one workout. Or ten. Or a hundred. I strived for perfection knowing I could never reach it, but it didnt stop me from trying. If I reached for the moon, Id come down with a few stars.

Michael Jordan first introduced Tim Grover to the world. After M.J. took too many beatings in the playoffs from Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons, he turned to Tim, or T.G., as I call him. T.G. got me ready for the NBA Draft and continued to work with me on and off throughout my sixteen-year career. When it comes to training, hes the OGthe GOAT! No days off, but I look like I needed one.

It takes a village to raise a child. I think it also takes a village to keep an NBA player going.

David Alexander saved me from retiring in 2015.

I can think of a few guys Ive wanted to square up with back in my day! Ill keep that to myself, though. Think about how many people play basketball professionally all around the world. Think about how many talented players are out there who never got the chance to advance their career for one reason or another. Theres only a few hundred players in the NBA. To not only be in the NBA but one of the top players, thats both a daunting responsibility and a blessing. I saw so many guys come and go, a lot of them talented, because doing this job takes dedication that not everyone can maintain. I always knew that the moment I slacked off was the moment someone else was taking my spot. But I also wasnt the only one keeping me focused.