NBA legend Dwyane Wade reveals what he misses the most since his retirement from the league.
In an interview with GQ Hype, Wade shared that he misses being one of the best players in the game.
“What I do miss is being better than people,” Wade said. “I miss being good at something, really good at it.”
Wade then explained how difficult it was for him to transition from playing in the league to retiring.
“We all are going to chase it,” he admits. “Think about playing in front of—for nine months of the year—20,000 people screaming your name. Or booing you! That ovation, you get used to that and it becomes the soundtrack that you’re familiar with,” Wade explained. “Then, it just goes away. You walk in the house, and your kids or your wife may not run up to you and say anything. They may not even know you’re home.”
Wade explained when he knew that his retirement was close.
Once I knew that I didn’t have that special quality anymore, that I lost all my powers, and I became a regular basketball player, the game was not as fun as it used to be,” Wade said.
Wade also spoke about how he would pay attention to what the media was saying about him during his playing days.
“Yes, I did,” he says, chuckling as he repeats himself…I was guilty of thinking what they said really mattered,” Wade said. “People ain’t in the gym with you. They don’t know the work you’re putting in. People just say things. It affects you at times.”
For his next chapter, Wade is a part of Amazon Prime Video’s coverage of the NBA. Wade will work as an in-game commentator and studio analyst. Previously, Wade was a color commentator for NBC’s basketball broadcasts. He also spent three seasons working for TNT Sports.