Dwyane Wade’s Daughter, 6, Gives Birthday Tribute

Zaya Wade, 2023 inductee Dwyane Wade, Kaavia James Wade and Gabrielle Union attend the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Induction at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Mass., on Aug. 12, 2023. Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

NBA star Dwyane Wade embraces being a girl’s dad, demonstrating that despite fame and fortune, the sentimental moments are what matter most.

On the heels of his 43rd birthday on Jan. 17, Wade’s 6-year-old daughter, Kaavia, shared a series of photos to her Instagram page, expressing the love and appreciation she has for her father.

“Usually you got my back, but today I got yours daddy,” she captioned the Jan. 20 post along with a heart.

The former shooting guard can be seen hugging his daughter while rocking a personalized robe that says, “Kaav’s Dad.” He then opens other gifts, including a gold chain, and blows out birthday candles from a pack of a dozen Dunkin' Donuts.

“P.S. I’ll send you my @target bill later for this gift,” she added at the end of the caption.

Wade shares Kaavia with his wife and actress, Gabrielle Union, and is also father to two daughters, Zaire and Zaya, with his ex-wife as well as a son, Xavier, from a previous relationship.

Union also took a moment to praise her husband for the father that he is, along with the accomplishments made over his decades-long career extending beyond a successful 16-season NBA resume.

“Having a front-row seat to your evolution as a man, a husband, father, businessman, friend, commentator, public speaker, Oscar-nominated producer, podcast host, team owner, and even as a neighbor has been nothing short of wondrous,” she wrote.

“Reminder: count the blessings, cherish the moments, love the ones who make it all worthwhile,” Union continued in a separate post.

The couple went public with their relationship in 2010 and tied the knot four years later. Together with their blended family, Wade said he strives to be the best father he can be.

Learning from his own upbringing, Wade said he “leads everything with love” and hopes to provide a parenting style with structure for his children that he didn’t have growing up.

“I learned a lot about what I didn’t want and what I did want. At the same time, I never blame. I understand that we all have our own lives. We all have our own journey,” he told People in 2021.

“I want to be somebody who my kids always understand, that can adapt, and that is willing to grow and is willing to learn. Also, someone that they can come to for advice about this, that or the third, and that will not be judgmental about it.”

In the 2003 NBA draft, Wade was selected as the 5th overall pick by the Miami Heat, where he would spend the majority of his career.

He signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2016, before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers a year after and eventually making his way back to Miami in 2018.

He is a three-time NBA champion, a 13-time NBA All-Star, and an eight-time member of the All-NBA Team, among other achievements, and is regarded as one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history.

Wade retired in 2019, and was recently honored with a statue outside Kaseya Center, the home arena of the Miami Heat. He is now the host of the American adaptation of “The Cube.”