Dwyane Wade is now a proud owner of The Utah Jazz.
On Friday, the Utah Jazz announced that Wade would be joining the youngest ownership group in the league, which is led by technology entrepreneur Ryan Smith and his wife, Ashley. They acquired a majority interest in the team towards the end of last year.
“Dwyane is not only a basketball legend, he is also a great leader, businessman, and human being,” Smith said in a statement of his longtime friend. ”As we continue to build on the incredible legacy of the Utah Jazz franchise, we are excited to add Dwyane’s experience and expertise to the equation.”
The 39-year-old retired NBA star played 16 NBA seasons with Chicago, Miami, and Cleveland. He retired after the 2018-19 season, after securing three NBA titles. His No. 3 Heat jersey was retired last month.
Wade also praised the partnership, calling it the “perfect fit.” He says that he shares many of the same views with the group, one of which being “building a championship franchise.”
In 2019, Wade expressed joining NBA ownership and explored joining the Miami Heat leadership group. However, that deal never came to fruition.
