Wade’s son wants to play in Europe

Zaire Wade’s (20 years and 1.90 m) career in basketball has not been easy. After his years in high school, Dwyane’s son decided to jump to professionalism without the previous step of the university. His destiny, the Salt Lake City Stars of the Development League (G-League), the championship of NBA affiliated teams, which selected him at number 10 in the 2021 draft.

His first steps with the elders were ephemeral. Only 13 games before suffering a serious knee injury in March 2022 that left him unemployed for ten months. Despite that hard blow, the firstborn of Flash He did not throw in the towel and after his recovery he has launched a new adventure with Africa with more than likely the next chapter.

Zaire participated in the Basketball Africa League Combine in mid-January along with 29 other players from all corners of the world. The objective is to show their skills to be part of one of the 12 African team squads that participate in this competition sponsored by the NBA and FIBA, which is on its way to its third season.

“My road is a roller coaster that no one has ever been on. There are experiences that I have not had, but the best is yet to come. Nothing is over, the best is yet to come and I know it,” Wade told SDNA’s Christos Tsaltas. His dream is to be selected by BC Espoir Fukash, a team from the Democratic Republic of Congo to honor his name.: The country was known as Zaire between 1971 and 1997 after gaining its independence from Belgium. “That intention came after actually wanting to play in the BAL,” he says.

But what matters most to the son of the winner of three NBA rings is that the BAL serve as a springboard to higher levels. “It would be a great opportunity because the most important thing is that you have the eyes of the NBA and FIBA ​​(above). And no other league really gives you that attention from either,” he continues. “That way, I could also get dual citizenship, which would really allow me to continue my career, so it’s a good opportunity.”

Europe would be a great landing for him after the African tournament. “I’m definitely thinking about playing there. If an opportunity presents itself to me, I’m definitely open.. I have tried European basketball, having participated in previous combines. I am open to anything that might catch my eye,” Zaire said.

Basketball Africa League

The Basketball Africa League is a recently created championship by the NBA and FIBA ​​to raise the level of basketball on the continent. In it participate 12 teams from different African countries that are divided into two Conferences, that of the Nile in Cairo (Egypt) and that of the Sahara in Dakar (Senegal), of six sets each. The best four of each qualify for a one-game playoffs, which are played in Kigali (Rwanda). Clubs are made up of 13 players. Eight must be from the African country in question, two from elsewhere on the continent. The nationality of the last two is indifferent.