Like many basketball parents around the world, Dwyane Wade isn’t happy about his son’s playing time, but the former NBA star had a major platform to express his frustration.
On Tuesday’s edition of Inside the NBA on TNT, the Miami Heat legend said he would not attend Saturday’s state title game between Sierra Canyon — which features his son, senior Zaire Wade, and LeBron James‘ son, freshman Bronny James — and the winner of Thursday’s Sheldon (Sacramento) and Bishop O’Down (Oakland) matchup in California’s open division.
“I will not be there,” Wade said about attending the state title game before referencing Sierra Canyon coach Andre Chevalier. “My son isn’t playing and I don’t want to do nothing to the coach. I won’t be there. But I’ll be rooting for the kids.”
Ziaire Williams, a five-star prospect ranked seventh in the 2020 class by ESPN.com, hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer in Sierra Canyon’s come-from-behind, 63-61 win over Etiwanda on Tuesday. Zaire Wade did not score in the game, per maxpreps.com.
Zaire Wade, a 6-foot-2 wing, was injured earlier this season. He’s averaged 4.3 points per game, according to the games maxpreps.com tracked. It’s difficult to find playing time at Sierra Canyon, where Wade’s son is surrounded by stars.
Williams and B.J. Boston, a five-star prospect who signed with Kentucky, are the stars of Sierra Canyon’s team.
Terran Frank is a four-star prospect who signed with TCU. Sierra Canyon’s Amari Bailey is a top-10 prospect in the class of 2022, per ESPN.com. And Bronny James is evolving into a talented player too. Even Bronny James has been overshadowed by the veteran standouts on Sierra Canyon’s roster.
Bronny James and Zaire Wade combined to score just two points in a Thanksgiving Hoopfest win in Dallas over Texas state champion Duncanville. Zaire Wade played just four minutes in that game.
Zaire Wade is a senior and three star-prospect in the 2020 class who currently has offers from DePaul, Nebraska, Rhode Island and Toledo, per ESPN.com. Earlier this season, he told reporters that his father had compared Sierra Canyon to the Golden State Warriors because “everybody is coming after our team.”
Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union have attended multiple Sierra Canyon games this season.
Although Wade expressed frustration Tuesday, he had a little bit different view Monday when he tweeted: “For All The Kids Out There That’s Not Getting The Time or Opportunity They Feel They Deserve. Look No Further Than The Goat @TomBrady For Some Perspective. They Drafted 198 Players Before Him. #GodsPlan”
At the start of the Zaire’s season, Wade seemed to understand how difficult it might be for his son to get substantial minutes on Chevalier’s team.
“He doesn’t care who you are,” Wade told USA Today about Chevalier last summer after his son transferred to Sierra Canyon. “He’s gonna get on you. He’s gonna push you, and make you better. I feel like that’s what everybody likes about him. Some coaches may soften up to certain players, but he doesn’t.”
Source : ESPN
