Dwyane Wade is stepping into a new spotlight—one that no one saw coming. After years of dominating on the court, the NBA legend is making a move that has fans doing a double-take. The Today show is getting a serious shake-up, and the latest addition is turning heads. With Hoda Kotb stepping away from Today With Hoda & Jenna, the show has officially rebranded as Today With Jenna & Friends. Now, Jenna Bush Hager is taking the reins alongside a rotating panel of celebrity guest hosts, keeping things fresh and exciting. So, who’s the next big name to join the $14 million legendary anchor? None other than NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade.
In classic Today show fashion, the announcement came through an Instagram post on March 6, featuring an adorable text message exchange. Fans were quick to react, hyped to see the 3x NBA champion stepping into a new role outside of sports.
But here’s the real game-changer—Wade isn’t just stopping by for a quick chat. He’s committing to a full week on the show, starting March 10. “We’re beyond excited to have @dwyanewade joining us for a wholeeee week starting Monday, March 10! #JennaandFriends,” the post confirmed. It’s a rare chance to see Wade in a different light, trading courtside commentary for morning TV energy.
However, Wade isn’t the only star bringing the heat. Over 20 celebrity guests have already taken a seat next to Jenna, from his wife Gabrielle Union and Scarlett Johansson to Password’s Keke Palmer and Saturday Night Live’s Mikey Day. Each guest has brought something unique, adding to the show’s evolving dynamic.
However, this is Wade’s first major venture since revealing his private battle with kidney cancer. Interestingly it was Today With Jenna & Friends where fans got an intimate look at Dwyane Wade’s journey. And now, as he takes on this new role, audiences are eager to see more of Wade outside the basketball world.
Today with Jenna & Friends reveals Dwyane Wade’s unknown struggle
Last month, CBS shed light on Dwyane Wade’s private health battle, revealing that he had undergone surgery in December 2023 after doctors diagnosed him with kidney cancer. The procedure removed 40% of his kidney, a shocking reality for the former NBA star. But while Wade has kept his struggle mostly under wraps, his wife, Gabrielle Union, recently opened up on Today With Jenna & Friends about just how difficult that time was.
“It was year nine of our marriage and … year nine was very hard,” Union confessed during her appearance on the show. She then touched on Wade’s battle, which he only made public earlier this year. “When you mention year nine being hard, he hadn’t revealed his cancer diagnosis and his own cancer journey, so now we can put it in more context,” she explained.
However, Wade’s journey started with something far less alarming. On his podcast, he shared that he originally went in for a routine checkup, only mentioning mild stomach discomfort and a weaker urine stream. It seemed minor—nothing worth stressing over. But when doctors took a closer look, they found something far more serious: a tumor on his right kidney that had gone completely unnoticed.
Interestingly, Wade wasn’t even thinking about his kidneys. “I didn’t go in for my kidneys,” he admitted. “But because I did the full-body scan, they saw something.”
Since retiring in 2019, he hadn’t prioritized regular medical exams, but after watching his father undergo surgery, he decided to get checked. That one decision may have saved his life. Now, with his upcoming appearance on Today With Jenna & Friends, fans may get to hear even more about his journey.
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