Dwyane Wade’s decision to sign with the Chicago Bulls in free agency came as a shock to nearly everyone in the NBA world, including even Wade’s wife.
Gabrielle Union talked about her acting career and more in an interview with Basketball Insider’s Alex Kennedy that was published on Thursday. They also discussed Wade’s decision to sign with the Bulls, which Union called “shocking” given that Wade had contract disputes in the past but the two sides always came to an agreement.
“It was shocking. There’s no way around that word. It takes some getting used to,” Wade’s wife told Kennedy. “We had just built our dream home in Miami and everyone sort of had their life in Miami so it’s big move for everyone.”
Kennedy asked Union when she realized her husband leaving the Miami Heat — the only NBA team for whom he’d ever played — was a possibility.
“Even when we were on vacation, I think me and everyone just kind of assumed [we’d be back]. Like, ‘It looks kind of bleak right now, but they’ll work it out. They always work it out! They’ll work it out.’ It probably wasn’t until Denver’s offer came in that I realized. That offer was… a lot. Then there was another offer and another offer and another offer. And it was like, ‘Oh wait, hold on. Are you thinking about this?’ I mean, how can you not? When there’s an offer on the table that is, what, $13-15 million more than to stay home, it’s like, ‘Wow. Okay. Wow.’”
Union emphasized that Wade didn’t simply take the money, otherwise he would have accepted the Nuggets’ offer. Instead, it was a combination of more money but also opportunity and fit, which he felt the Bulls provided.
Union says the family will keep their home in South Florida and that their boys will continue to play for their South Florida AAU basketball teams. Once the family accepted dealing with the rough winter in Chicago, they grew excited for the move. One thing Union did leave out, though, is the way her advice helped facilitate Wade’s decision.
