Athletes usually retire due to age, waning form, or injury—except in Dwyane Wade’s case. Sure, his stat line wasn’t what it used to be. Gone were the 25+ point per game seasons, but even in his final one, he was still giving fans moments of brilliance, averaging around 15 points while adding value in both playmaking and rebounding. No wonder he even earned an All-Star nod that season. So what convinced him that it was time?
Wade recently peeled back the curtain on Making Space with Hoda Kotb, and what he revealed added layers far beyond basketball. “The moment I knew. Once I left Miami [Heat], I went to Chicago [Bulls]. And it was one of the best years of my life because that was when my daughter Zaya found the confidence to come out to our family, being in Chicago, because of the teacher she had. And also to my agent who passed away,” he shared.
In Chicago, Wade found more than a roster spot—he found a sanctuary. It was the place where his daughter Zaya found the strength to express her identity, all thanks to a teacher who changed her life. And as that life-affirming chapter unfolded, Wade was also witnessing another one come to a close.
In those months, his agent of 15 years, mentor, and friend, Henry Thomas, battled a terminal illness. “That was his [Henry’s] last year of life. And I got a chance to spend that last year with him about being in Chicago because he couldn’t travel or anything. So for my personal life, that moment was great,” the 3x NBA champ recalled.
Dwyane Wade was in Cleveland when he got the dreaded call—Henry was seriously ill. Wade wasted no time and boarded a flight to Chicago to say goodbye. It was in those silent moments, alone with him, that Wade realized basketball no longer filled him the way family did.
“I remember the family allowed me to go in the room and just have, you know, 15, 20 minutes just by myself with him… I felt like he was the first person I told that I don’t want to do this no more. That the love that I have for the game of basketball is not there anymore, that I’m ready to do something else. And also, too, he was a big part of my journey, and I was losing him too at the same time. And I just was like, I want to do something else,” Wade recalled on the podcast.
Jan 14, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Former Miami Heat player Dwayne Wade reacts after learning a statue will be erected outside of Kaseya Center in 2025, during a special ceremony during halftime of the game between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
After 15 years of partnership, the loss of his agent hit Wade deeply. “I can’t thank you enough for these last 15 years,” Wade had said in his emotional note for Henry.
Dwyane Wade considered Henry Thomas a lot more than a mentor
When The Flash walked into the NBA spotlight in 2003, it wasn’t just talent he carried with him—it was heart. At his very first press conference, the young rookie didn’t talk stats or glory. He talked about what would matter most when the game was done. “Family will be something down the line when I don’t have basketball that I’ll have to lean on,” he said. And just like that, fans got a glimpse of the man behind the jersey—a man who already knew that life’s real victories would come off the court.
So, when Henry Thomas—Wade’s longtime agent passed away years later, it wasn’t just a professional loss. It was personal, deep, and painful. “I’ve never lost anyone in my family that’s been close to me,” Wade shared, and if you’ve ever lost someone who felt like home, you know exactly what he meant.
Over their 15-year partnership, Thomas orchestrated Wade’s blockbuster Heat superteam deal in 2010, cementing the careers of Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh. In his final season (2018–19), Wade dedicated every game to Thomas, saying, “I dedicated this season to my agent (Henry Thomas)… I think I’ve checked the box on all those things.“
Shortly after Thomas’s passing, Wade shared an emotional Instagram post addressed to “Hank,” writing, “I love you Henry(Hank) Thomas—THANK YOU for loving me right back. Be at peace—We (your family) got this!!! Your son Dwyane!“
This was never just about business. It was about showing a young man how to stand tall in life. It was about trust, respect, and love—the kind you don’t put in contracts. And when it came time to call it a career, it was Henry’s voice that stayed with him. That’s not mentorship. That’s family.
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