Miami’s skyline still rings with the legacy of Dwyane Wade. The man who brought three championship banners to the city, first hit the court with the Heat in 2003 and closed out his career there in 2019. Miami granted him memories, legacy, and love—yet that city holds haunted echoes. There’s a lot of heart behind that decision, and it starts with family.

Everything shifted in 2020. Wade’s daughter, Zaya, came out as transgender at just 17. Suddenly, that familiar city no longer felt safe. “That’s another reason why I don’t live in that state,” Wade said in 2023, talking about Florida’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The family packed up for Los Angeles, seeking the safety and acceptance Zaya deserved. The choice wasn’t about basketball or lifestyle—it was about protection and peace of mind.

Yet despite the rough past, the Wade family story just took a surprising turn—Zaire Wade is back in Miami. He wasn’t merely passing through. Twenty-two-year-old Zaire Wade teased fans with a cryptic Instagram story. It showed him chatting with someone, though the conversation was muted under “Tides” by Blacktop. But the real noise was in the tags: Esquire, Formula 1, and Red Bull—a company worth a jaw-dropping $36 billion. Zaire didn’t spill much, but the fashion-sports crossover definitely has fans curious.

On the trackside, Miami buzzes for a different reason—the Miami Grand Prix. Miami’s starting grid promises a thriller with Oscar Piastri starting fourth and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli locking down third. Lando Norris is the fan-favorite here, especially after taking his first win at this very track last year. All eyes are set on the lights going out Sunday night, with Sky Sports F1 covering the whole thing live.

But here’s the twist—Mother Nature might just rewrite the script. Saturday’s Sprint was a rain-soaked chaos fest, ending with a surprise McLaren one-two led by Norris. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen might struggle thanks to a high downforce setup, and with barely any dry tyre data, anything can happen. So, buckle up—Miami’s drama is just getting started.

Dwyane Wade chose family over fame in Miami exit

When Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union packed up and left Miami for California, it wasn’t just about new beginnings—it was about safety. Back in 2023, Wade opened up about their decision, saying it was deeply rooted in protecting their daughter, Zaya.

“One of our decisions was what was going to be the safest and best community for our daughter, Zaya,” he told Variety at the Met Gala. That answer led them straight to Los Angeles, where they believed she’d have a better shot at living freely and confidently.

Still, it wasn’t easy walking away from a city that gave him so much. Wade admitted, “The city has done so much for me,” and his love for Miami remains strong. But things changed.

“The last couple of years, the laws, the politics… it’s unsafe for my daughter, it’s unsafe for the young kids and the youth and adults, the elder in the trans community.” He didn’t hold back, adding, “For the safety of my family, that’s what it was. I couldn’t move back.”

Wade’s concern centered on a series of Florida statutes. These include the “Don’t Say Gay/Trans” education restrictions and bans on gender-affirming care for minors, that had passed between 2021 and 2023 under Governor Ron DeSantis. In an NPR interview, Wade explained that his family “would not be accepted” under these policies, prompting the sale of their Miami mansion and the cross-country move in late 2021. Their departure also galvanized Wade’s philanthropic efforts. In 2023, he launched Translatable, an online community backed by a $250,000 Elevate Prize award. The community provides mental-health resources and peer support for LGBTQ+ youth nationwide.

It’s heartbreaking that a place once filled with celebration now feels unwelcoming. While Miami still holds a special place in Wade’s story, it just couldn’t offer what his family needed most—peace. Los Angeles, on the other hand, gave them that safe space. And at the end of the day, that’s what mattered.