Dwyane Wade, a three-time champion, retired from the NBA in 2019. He was drafted fifth overall in 2003 by the Miami Heat. By 2006, he had led the Heat to their first NBA Championship and was named MVP in the 2006 NBA Finals. Wade even competed in the 2008 Olympics and led the USA basketball team to win the gold. On Saturday February 22nd, 2020 the Miami Heat retired Wade’s jersey #3.
Unlike your typical NBA star, Dwyane Wade’s signature shoe line is with Li-Ning. Most athletes partner with well-known shoe companies like Nike, Adidas, or Puma. But just like the spelling of his first name, Dwyane Wade is not conventional.
The “Way of Wade” shoe line made its debut in 2013. His sneakers are not difficult purchase due to the limited supply, but they are difficult to obtain because of the distribution. They were originally only sold on a private website called sunlightstation.com but are now available on wayofwade.com. They aren’t even available for purchase on Li-Ning’s website.
His most recent release was the “Way of Wade” (WoW) 8.0 Infinity. The shoes come in a colorway called “Chinese New Year” and a few other colors. The shoes look a little bit futuristic with an intense pattern of colors, but maybe the coolest part is that each different colorway comes with its own distinct packaging.
Courtesy of Sunlight station.
One of my personal favorites is a pair of shoes called the “Way of Wade 4.0 USA Pack.” The pack comes with two shoes that are each a different colorway. The orange pair represents Chicago where Wade was born. The insole has a map of the city of Chicago. The blue/white shoe represents Miami, where he played most of NBA career. The insole has a map of the city of Miami. I love the thought that went into these two sneakers and how it represents two cities that mean so much to Wade.
Courtesy of Sunlight Station
Alyssa Freyder 