SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Dwyane Wade spoke in a recent interview with GQ about his recent purchase into Utah Jazz ownership group, his relationship with majority owner Ryan Smith, Donovan Mitchell, and how his family felt about moving to Utah / p> In the conversation, Wade was asked why he chose Utah over the opportunity to own a piece of the Miami Heat in which he played 15 of his 16 NBA seasons.
« My basketball career and my business career are two different Things, ”Wade told GQ. “We had a great relationship from a basketball point of view. But for me, man, this was the best opportunity. «
» Athletes are a little more comfortable being themselves. We’re great at a sport, but that’s not the only thing we can do. » @DwyaneWade https://t.co/BrbEDcNq3t
Wade bought a minority stake in April after establishing a relationship with Smith, whose purchase of Jazz was announced in October.
« Ryan is 42 years old old and I’m 39, « said Wade. “He’s in a business and area in technology that I want to get into one day and learn more about it. And I know what I can bring in from a basketball point of view and he sees my values. It just worked out. ”
Smith and Wade met years ago on a golf course in California and had a strong friendship both on and off the course.
When buying the Jazz, Wade saw an opportunity to do that To make Utah’s economic growth more accessible to the African American community.
« We have about two percent African American in Utah, right? » Said Waide. “So there is beauty in the city and hopefully more doors will open and more of us can experience it. Hopefully I can shed a different light on the city and this light on our church and we can start bridging the gap. And that’s all: a big gap. And it has to be bridged. ”
Gabrielle Union set the record for her role with @utahjazz after husband Dwyane Wade bought a stake in the team.
While Wade knew he wanted to buy part of the team, he had to sell the idea to his family, including his wife, actress, and model Gabrielle Union.
“My wife knew everything and my kids knew everything, Zaya [one of Wade’s children] knew everything, ”Wade told GQ. “And in everything Ryan has done, I’ve talked to my family about these scholarships, about starting EnCircle. I talked to Zaya about that. ”
Wade’s daughter Zaya is a member of the LGBTQ community, which adds to the meaning of Smith’s commitment to EnCircle, a safe haven for LGBTQ youth and families founded in Provo, Utah
Utah Jazz owner @RyanQualtrics, Apple CEO Tim Cook and @ Imaginedragons frontman Dan Reynolds are working together to expand @ encircle2gether, a safe place for LGBTQ youth and families that started in Provo. #TakeNote https://t.co/yorKrHYbTk
Wade’s relationship with jazz superstar Donovan Mitchell helped close the deal. The fourth-year guard has drawn comparisons to Wade throughout his career and the two have developed a close bond.
« He’s already 24 and has a lot to do, and he’s already a critical player in our league « said Wade in the interviews. « So I look forward to giving back everything I have learned so that his career is bigger than mine has ever been. »
You can read Wade’s full interview with GQ here, including his involvement in the world of real estate and his advance as a TV presenter on TNT’s « The Cube ».
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