Whether you rooted for him or not, it's hard to deny Dwyane Wade is one of the greatest athletes to ever step on the court. At his peak, he averaged a whopping 30.2 points per game (hello, scoring title), dished out 7.5 assists, and snagged over two steals a game. He has three NBA championships, an Olympic gold medal from 2008, and a shiny spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame as of 2023. Bottom line: The guy's a machine.
But what separates a good athlete from a generational one? According to Wade, it all starts the second you open your eyes in the morning.
"I'm normally a two-hour-before-everyone-wakes-up type of person," Wade told Men's Journal. "So, I get up at five, six in the morning, making sure, out here in L.A. I'm getting to my health. Because it's the most important thing to me. If my body is not feeling good, then nothing else is going to feel good."
Even in retirement, Wade isn't hitting the snooze button. While most of us are still dreaming, Wade is already up, breaking a sweat. While he doesn't have a personal trainer on speed dial these days, after 16 seasons in the NBA, he knows his body better than anyone. But his wellness routine goes far beyond just hitting the pavement, he's also incorporated practices that help keep him healthy, body and mind.
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"The first thing I do right away is work out," he said. "I've been an athlete for my whole life, and I kind of know how I like my body to look. I train, I do saunas, I do cold tubs... And a lot of times in the midst of that, I meditate. So, I have meditation apps on my phone where I want to just set my intentions on what I want from this day."
Dwyane Wade has always been serious about taking care of his body-during his NBA days and now in retirement. His ethos goes like this: Pushed yourself through a grueling workout? Time to focus on recovery. Went heavy on the weights? Make sure you're hitting those protein goals (which explains his partnership with Thorne). Had a mentally tough day? It's essential to get your mind right. These days Wade's approach is all about balance and listening to what his body and mind need to stay at their best.
"What's very important to me is making sure that what I'm putting out, I'm putting back in. And I think that's the thing where we don't do a lot. And so, on my journey of wellness, I'm making sure that I've found a wellness routine that makes sure I can put back into my body."
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This story was originally published May 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM.