Just when you believed Zaire Wade would keep his focus on the court, he made a surprising off-court play. It’s a family affair: NBA legend Dwyane Wade is also stepping into the spotlight. The NBA legend is gearing up for another round of a special initiative that, interestingly enough, sees him partnering once more with his college teammate.

For Marquette fans, Travis Diener needs no introduction. He and Wade were a dynamic duo back in the day, helping lead the Golden Eagles to a rare Final Four appearance—their only one this century. Now, their partnership has taken a different shape, as they team up to tackle a more pressing issue: youth literacy. Their mission? To generate funds for local programs, especially the Tragil Wade-Johnson Summer Reading Program, which Dwyane launched to support young readers in Milwaukee.

Over the years, Wade and Diener have hosted several of these events, each bringing energy and attention to the cause. This time, they’re setting up shop at a venue that’s hard to miss—the Garage at the $2.87 billion auto giant Harley-Davidson’s Museum in Milwaukee.

“Wade vs. Diener is BACK and better than ever this June! Wade Vs. Diener aims to bring awareness and raise funds for: Wade Scholars, Marquette basketball facilities, and the Tragil Wade-Johnson Summer Reading Program at Marquette,” read the caption to the IG post, sharing the update. Meanwhile, while his father tackles philanthropy, Zaire is pursuing corporate alliances.

Zaire recently dropped some intriguing images on Instagram that hint at a potential collaboration with none other than Red Bull—the $3.5 billion F1 powerhouse. One photo shows him suited up next to their race car, and a short clip only adds to the speculation. “This [car] is my baby right here. You gotta work hard for this guy, man. A lot of blood, sweat, tears. Here we go…” Zaire said in the clip. While the details remain under wraps, chances are we could be looking at something big. Especially considering that he seems to have a newfound motivation lately.

Zaire Wade recently turned heads with his impressive abilities

When your father is none other than NBA icon Dwyane Wade, expectations aren’t just high, they’re sky-high. And let’s face it, living in that kind of shadow isn’t easy. Especially when your path doesn’t follow the straight line of an NBA draft board. But Zaire Wade? He’s doing things on his own terms.

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, Zaire Wade embarked on an unconventional pro journey, signing with the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League for the 2021–22 season. In 2023, he shifted continents to join the Cape Town Tigers in the Basketball Africa League, where over four games he averaged 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 30.3 minutes per contest.

Despite the team’s mixed results—and occasional comparisons to his Hall-of-Fame father that even drew public ire from the Tigers’ coach—Zaire used those matchups to refine his all-around skill set. This spring, he accepted a new challenge in East Asia, signing with the Macau Black Bears for the Asian Tournament, bolstering their backcourt depth alongside local and import talent

Just recently, Zaire treated his Instagram followers to an eye-opening highlight reel. He opened with a tight, two-ball dribble series that seamlessly morphed into a step-back jumper, a move eerily reminiscent of LeBron James’s 2018 Raptors buzzer-beater, before unleashing an emphatic one-handed dunk that rattled the rim and his critics alike

Along with the video, he dropped a message that hit deep: “it’s a lot weighin’ on my shoulder, I ain’t ever gon fold up -ENJOYTHETRAFFIC. At 23, Zaire knows the weight he carries—and he’s clearly ready for it, whether it be on the court or off of it with potential partnerships.

Whether it’s Dwyane Wade driving donations for Milwaukee youth or Zaire Wade eyeing the corporate finish line, the Wade legacy is evolving on and off the hardwood. As he declared in a recent interview, “I’ll be in the NBA in due time,” a reminder that his current stops are simply pit-stops on a longer road to the world’s premier league. At 23 years old and counting, his game speaks louder than any headline, and if his latest summer performances are any indication, he’s only just begun to lecture his doubters.