Dwyane Wade’s NBA journey wasn’t all highlight reels and championship parades. In his journey to become one of the greatest point guards, struggles were as much a part as the glamor, or even more at times. He had to grind through critics and injuries, like the one in the 2006–07 NBA season, which caused him to miss 31 games. But still, it’s not just his skills that shone through; another thing that stood out was his fashion sense. Whether it was game night or the red carpet, Wade knew how to turn heads. That sharp style became a constant, even when the spotlight faded or the scoreboard didn’t favor him.

Earlier this year, Wade flexed his style again, this time in a $500 custom jacket at the Supper Club. And that Murse he carries? It’s become a statement, making just as much noise as any buzzer-beater. Even his daughter, Zaya Wade, is carving her path in fashion. She’s already been featured in Seventeen and isn’t slowing down. But long before the lights and designer tags, Wade had to hustle just for a seat at the table. Or even a chance to knock on the door.

This week, Wade’s adding a new role to his resume: guest editor of Players, a fashion-forward magazine from Carine Roitfeld’s publishing house. It’s the first ever to focus solely on athletes and their style evolution. Wade recently reflected on what it took to get here. “We had to sell ourselves. We had to write, essentially, short stories about why we should be at a fashion show. ‘Hey, my name is Dwyane Wade. I would love to come to the Dsquared2 show,’” he said. He remembered how athletes had to explain why they belonged at shows. The fashion industry has since then moved a lot further, and unlike then, now the athletes don’t have to go through the same struggles as Dwyane Wade had to.

Players even posted part of that conversation on Instagram. In the conversation, Wade talked about how the dress code once limited expression. Especially after the change of the NBA dress code. “We were still paying for everything out of pocket, so we started saying it’d be great if brands wanted to dress us,” he shared.

Dwyane pointed out how he had to build up his brand throughout his career. “We started going to New York, having meetings, letting people know: ‘This is what we want to do.’ Eventually, it became about going to shows, getting in the room. It was a progression building whatever that fashion lane was going to be for us.” What started as small risks became building blocks.

Allen Iverson’s bold moves that redefined NBA culture

Allen Iverson didn’t just change the NBA with his skills; the man reshaped its entire culture. He brought something special, something real, to the league. With his braids, tattoos, and love of hip hop, he stood out amongst others. But at first, the NBA didn’t embrace it. Although over time, the league started to loosen up. Players began to express themselves more freely, whether through their clothes, tattoos, or unique hairstyles.

Why did Iverson choose to stand out? “I took an a—whooping for it, but it’s bittersweet because you see guys now, they come in, and they got their own style,” he explained. “Man, I just love tattoos. Now you see dudes with all kinds of hair, they feel good about it.” It must be annoying at some level that what he wasn’t allowed to do is now allowed for the new generation of athletes. After all, from the start, his fashion was about being himself.

Iverson didn’t start this movement alone; soon, players like Kobe Bryant and others were following his lead. In 2005, the NBA introduced a dress code in response. “It wasn’t a problem at first,” Iverson said, recalling how others embraced the style. “Everyone saw I was doing it, and then there you go. You see Kobe with the chains on and the baggy clothes, everybody. Ya’ll my homeboys, ya’ll saw it all,” he added. However, with the shift in leadership in 2014, Adam Silver relaxed the rules, giving players more freedom to express their personality through their style.

Today, players like Russell Westbrook and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are making bold fashion statements, a direct result of Iverson’s influence. Even Carmelo Anthony recognizes this. Iverson’s push for self-expression changed the NBA forever, inside and out.