Chicago Bulls: former NBA legend reveals battle with illness

The Chicago Bulls signed Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade back in 2016 to pair with stars Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo to hopefully lead the Bulls to the playoffs. 

That goal was achieved with the Bulls finishing 41-41 for the season and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Sadly, however, the Bulls lost to the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Since then the Chicago native has retired and has been inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame which happened in Aug. of 2023 and has hosted a podcast called “The Why with Dwyane Wade” where recently he revealed some news he’s never shared before.

Chicago Bulls star reveals he had a cancerous tumor removed 

Recently on his podcast “The Why with Dwyane Wade” Wade revealed that he had a cancerous tumor removed from his kidney and that 40% of the kidney had to be removed. This by all records has been the first time Wade has spoken publicly about his diagnosis and was very candid with what he experienced. 

According to Wade via ABC7 News Chicago and his podcast, multiple doctors told him to get surgery to remove the tumor from his kidney. 

“Thank God that I did do the surgery,” he said.

Wade reflected on his journey to have the surgery, saying it was a low point in his life.

“I think it was the first time my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me weak,” he said. “That moment was probably the weakest point I’ve ever felt in my life … I was struggling, dog. Struggling. And one thing you never want to do as a man is you never want your family to see you as weak. You don’t want to be perceived as weak and you don’t want to be seen in your weak moments. But I had to.”

Wade said that he was able to get through this battle all thanks to his family who he credited with giving him the strength to push forward. 

“In that process of weakness, I found strength,” he said.”

Wade’s NBA career 

Wade’s NBA career spanned 16 seasons in which he played for the Miami Heat, the Bulls, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. A 13x All-Star, Wade was an ideal scorer having a career point total of 23,165 which is good for 39th of all-time. For his career Wade averaged 33.9 minutes, 22 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and had a career field goal percentage of 48%. 

The 3x NBA Champion was named to the All-NBA First Team twice and the All-NBA Second Team three times in his career. In just his one year with the Bulls Wade had respectable numbers averaging 18.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 steals in 29.9 minutes. 

Fully healthy 

After the removal Wade said he is now cancer free and has made a full recovery. 

Thankfully for Wade and his family, he is all good and is happy and healthy.