Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and former Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade showed unconditional support for his daughter, Zaya Wade, during Thursday’s episode of his “TimeOut” podcast.
Dwyane Wade, 43, shared that he wanted to create a safe space for his daughter so she can feel comfortable talking to him about anything.
“I told (Zaya) this will have to be an honest relationship,” he said. “You and I should never be guessing and never lying to each other.”
Zaya Wade, the daughter of Dwayne Wade and stepdaughter of actress Gabrielle Union, is a model and influencer who came out as transgender at the age of 12.
Dwyane Wade said that as they prioritized honesty, they developed their relationship and grew to understand one another better.
“We need to lead with honesty,” the former player added. “You know it’s a lot about me you don’t know as well, and there’s a lot about you I don’t know about and (we're) trying to do this.”
Dwyane Wade continued, “I’m here, and I’m the one. I’m going to protect you until the end, but I have to know everything you are telling me so I can understand it truthfully.”
Both then joked that they’ve been “doing pretty good” regarding their relationship with one another, which Zaya Wade thought she struggled with at first.
“It’s about me getting comfortable with you and talking to you about these things,” she said. “I think it was hard to break through my stereotypical view.”
Zaya Wade, 18, had a hard time letting men like her father into her life because she perceived them as unsupportive of what she was going through at the time.
“It was me trying to understand what you were like because I had this image of men in general and that Black men are rigged and stuck in their ways with their views,” she added. “But I had to realize that isn’t true to let you in.”
Former Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade.
Former Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade.
Kim Klement-Imagn Images
Zaya Wade noted that what helped develop her relationship with her father was taking time to have “deep conversations” that helped them fully understand one another.
“Our road trips when we would drive around town and talk about super deep stuff are, for me, the best ways I can communicate,” she concluded.
Click here to listen to the full episode of the “TimeOut” podcast featuring Zaya Wade.