BNtheMix/ Brittany Shawnté – On April 9, 2019, Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade played his final game in the NBA. As he played his last season in the league, he’s been swapping jerseys with some of his opponents after each game.
In keeping with Dwayne’s tradition, Budweiser planned a special tribute where he would trade jerseys from special people from his past. “To celebrate his final season, Dwyane Wade has been swapping jerseys with NBA legends. Before he said goodbye, we surprised him with five more. #ThisBudsFor3 #OneLastDance,” Budweiser shared in an uploaded video on YouTube.
However, this time, the five people weren’t NBA stars or even anyone remotely famous. Instead, there were five people who have been positively impacted by Dwyane outside of basketball. One by one, these five stepped on the court to share their stories and how the NBA baller changed their lives forever and gave their own personal gifts instead of jerseys. One included a woman who graduated from college because Dwyane paid her entire tuition. Another was the sister of a Parkland Shooting victim who thanked the star for honoring her late brother.
The clincher was Dwayne’s own mom, Jolinda, whose drug and alcohol addiction landed her in jail and took her away from her son for a chunk of his life. “You were the joy of my life, but I was dropping the ball,” she shared before her son through tears. “On that road, I noticed you kept showing up and you’d come and see about me. And Dwyane, because you believed in me, when I got out of prison, I was a different woman.”
There are countless stories like these that have happened because of Dwyane’s s love and passion for helping others in need. Through his foundation, the Wade’s World Foundation, he’s been able to provide support to organizations that promote education, health and social skills for children in at-risk situations. This video shows that Dwyane’s life has been about much more than basketball. His legacy is set solid not only because of his basketball career but also because of his giving heart.
Watch the emotional clip below!