The Miami Heat haven't been able to call on Dwyane Wade for their last three games. And they're set to be without him for a bit longer as he has taken some time away from the team to tend to his family and its latest addition.
Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union had a baby girl via surrogate last week, prompting the player to move to their Los Angeles home to be with the newest lady in his life - whose name remains undisclosed - during her first few days.
The veteran, who is playing out his 16th and final NBA season, held an interview with the Associated Press on Sunday, revealing he's set to be out for some more time as he intends to be with his family over the course of the next week or so.
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“With my daughter coming a couple weeks early, she’s a little tiny right now, so we’re making sure health-wise that she’s OK,” he explained. “And for me, once I leave and go back to the season, not really being able to be with me everywhere I go, this time right now, this bonding moment with my daughter is the most important thing in my life at this time.
“And then I’ll go from there, see how she’s doing and make a decision based on that,” Wade said.
Union had previously revealed having "eight or nine" miscarriages in her pursuit of motherhood. Eventually, the couple decided to take the surrogate route, which has seen the actor give birth to her first child.
“We had to go through a lot to get here,” Wade added. “Everyone knows that a little girl steals your heart.”
The shooting guard is expected to miss Miami's game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, as well as the fixtures against the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers and Lost Angeles Lakers that are to follow.
“Our situation is different,” he continued. “The world expects moms to take time off from work. They never expect dads to be the ones who take time away. Because of the route we took to this, it’s important that not also my wife but also me take this time."
It was thought that the player would call curtains on his remarkable NBA career in the summer. However, he engaged fans in an emotional YouTube video to let them know that he would come back for one more season, in spite of the toll the game has taken on his body and his family.
Back then, it was not known that the player and his wife were expecting a child; but it all makes sense now.
"I was going to take the whole year," Wade said. "I was going to retire this summer. But I decided to just take a little time in between instead.”
“My focus is my family and right now she is the most important person for me to focus on, and my boys understand that. My heart is full, man.”
Meanwhile, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is prepared to give the player all the time he needs.
“We’re totally fine with it,” Spoelstra said on Sunday.
Wade has averaged 14.3 points over the span of nine games for Miami this season, playing 25.7 minutes a night.
The Heat, who have lost their last two games on the bounce after impressive wins against the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs, will hope to have their veteran star back at the soonest.
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