Three-time NBA Champion Dwyane Wade is collaborating with hip-hop heavyweight William Leonard Roberts Jr., better known as Rick Ross, on a new sneaker to continue the legacy of the Way of Wade sneaker line.
The retired Miami Heat legend hooks up with the Maybach Music Group mogul on a two-shoe collection that celebrates and commemorates their success and collective impact on the city of Miami. The duo designed new colorways of the Way Of Wade 7 (WOW7) performance shoe and the lifestyle-focused Essence Ace II silhouette.
The Way Of Wade 7 is a black, purple, and gold reimagining of Wade’s seventh signature shoe. The performance basketball sneaker features a removable/replaceable crown that wraps along the midsole and heel, a nod to the artwork of Ross’ critically acclaimed album, Rather You Than Me. The Essence Ace II has a tonal red upper utilizing premium materials, such as reptile suede, tumbled leather, and reflective hits donning gold “Rick Ross” tags on each toe box, and co-branded logos throughout.
The collection, both on limited runs, is currently available for sale. The WOW7 is priced at $300 with the Ace II priced at $200. Both shoes are ready to be purchased online at www.wayofwade.com and locally in Miami at The Edition Boutique.
Way of Wade is more than a sportswear brand, it is a unique collaboration between Wade and Li-Ming, launched in 2012. Since then, Way of Wade has developed seven iterations of Wade’s high-performance basketball sneakers and created a fashion and lifestyle division that has grown with each year. The brand is a direct reflection of Wade’s passions and values, but the team runs a bit deeper. There is a roster of Way of Wade athletes competing at the highest levels, hand-picked by Wade himself.
Wade is a retired three-time NBA Champion (2006, 2012, and 2013) and 12-time All-Star selection. In 2006, three years after first joining the Heat as the No. 5 overall draft pick, he led the team to Miami’s first-ever NBA Championship and was named MVP of the Finals. In 2012 and 2013, Dwyane won his second and third NBA Championships. In 2004, he created the Wade’s World Foundation, which provides support to various educational, health, and family service programs, in particular, those that benefit underserved communities in Miami and his hometown of Chicago. In 2011, Wade was appointed to President Obama’s Fatherhood Task Force. In September 2012, he became a New York Times best-selling author, with the release of his first book, A FATHER FIRST: How My Life Became Bigger than Basketball.