Dwayne Wade has played in a total of 13 NBA All-Star games during his career, which consisted of 16 seasons. Last season, the now-former NBA star retired, but he recently went back to Chicago to be a TNT analyst and judge for the Saturday night Slam Dunk contest.

Wade was asked if he thought he could still hang with the best NBA players after he watched them play in the All-Star games. His response was, “Absolutely not.” He also mentioned that he’s not in prime basketball shape anymore and that he didn’t play basketball anymore even though he thought he would.

Dwayne Wade Making History for the Heat

During All-Star Weekend, the Miami Heat planned a big multi-night celebration in honor of Dwayne Wade. This included retiring his #3 jersey and honoring him as the team’s all-time leading scorer. He also helped the team win an NBA title in 2006, playing alongside LeBron James and Chris Bosh to win in 2010, along with two more NBA championships in 2012 and 2013.

There was also a screening of a documentary based on Wade’s life and his career – “D.Wade Life Unexpected.” It showcases his disruptive upbringing as a child in Chicago to his rise to NBA stardom. It also touched on his personal life in terms of his divorce, custody battle for his children, current marriage to Gabrielle Union, along with his support for his daughter Zaya and her gender identity.

Making the Decision to Retire

During the interview with GQ, Wayde talks about moving out of his dad’s house when he was 16 to move in with his then-girlfriend and her mother. At that time, Wade realized that he wanted to pursue his basketball dreams actively and that he would have to do it on his own.

Wade was asked if he felt similarly about when he was retiring, to which he answered positively and that it was his time to go. His thoughts about retiring didn’t come from him thinking that he couldn’t compete with some of the new stars. He most definitely feels that he can if he keeps his body in shape. He just woke up one day and had a different vision.

Just last month, Australia lost one of its greatest actors. Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil passed away at age 68 after a long battle with illness. An actor, dancer, cultural crusader, and storyteller — Gulpilil’s incredible legacy will live on forever. Australian Premier Steven Marshall described his trailblazing career as one that “shaped the history of Australian film and Aboriginal representation on screen.”

A Proud Yolŋu Man

Born in Arnhem Land, Gulpillil was part of the Mandhalpuyngu clan and belonged to the Yolŋu (Aboriginal group). He was raised as a skilled musician, ceremonial dancer, hunter, tracker, and trustee of cultural structures and laws. As a teenager, he went to the Maningrida mission school, where English director Nicolas Roeg first discovered his phenomenal talent for ceremonial dancing. Roeg cast him as the lead in Walkabout (1971), where David Gulpilil’s compelling performance marked the first Australian film where an Aboriginal character was depicted as powerful and charismatic. Despite its box office failure, the film brought international acclaim to Gulpilil.

David Gulpilil and the Western World

While in London to promote the film, Gulpilil gained notoriety for performing on stage with Jimi Hendrix, partying with John Lennon, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Bob Marley, Muhammad Ali, Marlon Brando, and even meeting the Queen herself. Despite his success, however, Gulpilil stayed true to his Aboriginal roots. When asked about his life, he described it simply as “one tiptoe in caviar and champagne” and another one “in the dirt of my Dreamtime.”

The Trailblazer of Australian Film

David Gulpilil’s career spanned over half a century filled with award-winning performances in some of Australian cinema’s most iconic and successful films — Storm Boy (1976), The Last Wave (1977), Australia’s most successful film in the US — Crocodile Dundee (1986), and Gulpilil’s commendable roles in Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), Australia (2008), and Charlie’s Country (2014).

Recognized by his country for his immense contribution to accurately representing the Yolŋu way of life in his films, David Gulpilil will forever be remembered as a talented man who pushed past the negative stereotypes of his culture and educated people through captivating narratives.

His last “role” is in the documentary I Am Gulpilil (2021), where he shares his life story with the world.