Dwyane Wade becomes an NBA team owner
LOS ANGELES, USA. July 10, 2019: Dwyane Wade at the 2019 ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theatre LA Live. (Shutterstock.com / Paul Smith, Featureflash Photo Agency)
NBA champion Dwyane Wade won three titles with the Miami Heat, and now he’s looking to score a trophy with the Utah Jazz.
Wade bought an ownership stake in the Utah Jazz and joins the league’s youngest ownership group, which is led by 42-year-old Ryan Smith, founder of the software company Qualtrics. Smith and his wife, Ashley, purchased a majority interest in the Jazz in October 2020 for $1.66 billion. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Deseret News
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Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Many people over the past few years have compared Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell to NBA legend Dwyane Wade, who won three championships and was named an All-Star 13 times.
Now, as first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday morning, the two will both be part of the Jazz organization, as Wade has purchased an ownership stake in the franchise from new owner Ryan Smith. Related
The Jazz announced the deal a short time later.
Wade, who played for the Miami Heat from 2003-19, told Wojnarowski on ESPN, “This goes way beyond the dream I had to just play basketball in the NBA. I’ve seen Shaq do it in Sacramento. I’ve seen Grant Hill do it in Atlanta. I’ve seen Jordan do it in Charlotte. If this partnership is going to be anything like my relationship is with Ryan, there are going to be a lot of things that I’ll want to be involved in.”
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Dwyane Wade has purchased ownership stake in the Utah Jazz
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Three-time NBA champion @DwyaneWade has purchased an ownership stake in the Utah Jazz, joining majority owner and governor @RyanQualtrics with plans to take an active role in the franchise and region. Story on ESPN: https://t.co/ZxtZe8uLey Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2021
From Woj’s article it looks like Wade is really excited to be a part of an NBA ownership group.
“This goes way beyond the dream I had to just play basketball in the NBA,” Wade told ESPN. “I’ve seen Shaq do it in Sacramento. I’ve seen Grant Hill do it in Atlanta. I’ve seen Jordan do it in Charlotte. If this partnership is going to be anything like my relationship is with Ryan, there are going to be a lot of things that I’ll want to be involved in. .