FORMER Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade has never been afraid to take risks.

On the court he earned the distinction of being one of the greatest to ever play basketball – winning three titles and becoming a 13-time NBA All-Star.

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Dwyane Wade is succeeding in business and basketballCredit: Getty

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Wade is set to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of FameCredit: Getty
In business, he has also shown a willingness to take chances in the pursuit of success.

Having signed a shoe deal with Converse during his rookie year, Wade moved to Jordan Brand in 2009.

Just three years later he ditched Jordan in order to sign with Chinese brand Li-Ning – having been offered his own shoe line and an equity stake in the company.

The risk paid off, with Li-Ning going on to sign him to a lucrative lifetime deal in 2018 – with NBA stars Jimmy Butler and CJ McCollum among those to have followed Wade to the Chinese brand.

Since hanging up his sneakers in 2019, Wade has stayed involved with the game he loves.

In April 2021 he became an NBA executive, buying a minority stake in the Utah Jazz.

At the time he said: “This goes way beyond the dream I had to just play basketball in the NBA.”

Wade, 41, hasn’t stopped there.

Earlier this month it was announced that he would be joining the ownership group of his hometown Chicago Sky in the WNBA.

The Windy City-born star visited the Sky’s practice facility last month – while he also attended the WNBA All-Star game in Las Vegas alongside wife Gabrielle Union this month.

Announcing the news, he told ESPN: “We all talk about support, and support looks different for everyone. “And so instead of tweeting out and saying ‘go support the W,’ instead of showing up at the game and supporting, I wanted to take it to that next level, and this was the next level for me.

“It’s a great opportunity to be a part of the league in its very early stages… Growth is going to happen, and so I want to be a part of the growth of this league.”

Wade, who is set to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame next month, has also not been shy in making non-sporting investments.

Alongside wife Gabrielle he launched a range of baby care products called Proudly – while he also has his own “Wade Cellars” wine company.

In 2020 he worked with Budweiser to launch zero-alcohol, zero-sugar drink Bud Zero – before going on to work on an NFT range with the beer company, which was released last year.

Ahead of the launch, the former member of Miami’s Big Three alongside LeBron James and Chris Bosh told CNBC: “I’ve always taken chances. I’ve always been a guy that’s done things a little different than everybody.”

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Alongside wife Gabrielle Union, Wade met Sylvia Fowles at the WNBA All-Star gameCredit: Getty

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Wade won three NBA titles with the Miami Heat, two of which came alongside LeBron JamesCredit: AP:Associated Press