Dwyane Wade: "You did us honor," Barack Obama told the NBA

Wade's wider brand, however, will no doubt remain as a social activist who, along with James, has awakened the political power of the professional athlete in 2012.

Wade – whose then girlfriend, Gabrielle Union, alerted her about this case – was the first to react by posting a photo of him in a hoodie, before discussing the issue with James and rally the team to a group shot.

"We were fathers in a state where that happened and we took a stand on what we believed," Wade told CNN Sport. "They needed more eyes, we understood it well."

Wade recognizes that the movement known as "Hoodies Up" has created a ripple effect that continues to gain ground seven years later. "This has allowed other people to be comfortable speaking," he says, although he did not consider it at the time .

"I do not think I'm aware of everything that's going to change [social awareness in sports]but we were well aware of the platform on which we needed to shed light on something that did not attract enough attention. "

The Heat's position on the Martin affair has been picked up by several other NBA stars before President Barack Obama speaks empathically about it.

Wade knows that his work is barely done, though. The 37-year-old will be the first member of this generation of superstar social activists to become a retired athlete spokesperson. (In other words, if you do not count Kaepernick as a retiree.)

"I think that changes," says Wade. "The eyes that I watch on me as an active athlete will be very different, but my voice does not change.I'm obviously only one person.I can not change the world, but I can helping to influence change in communities That's what I want to keep doing. "

& # 39; A last dance & # 39;

Wade's respect throughout the league has been felt during stopovers of his "One Last Dance" tour, as he has dubbed it this season. Last month in San Antonio, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich – who faced Wade in two NBA finals – called him an "iconic character" and "someone who care more than basketball ".

"He had a fierce attitude on the pitch, but he was accompanied by a big smile and a great understanding of the world and the community off the court," said the coach while the Team honored Wade before the match. "I think that's what made it so special."

Part of what makes Wade give back to his community is his education in Chicago's notoriously tough neighborhood, the South Side. Wade's mother, Jolinda, made public her former drug addiction and imprisonment, which led her to be raised very early by her father, her father.

"The only way my family was able to dress, is because someone else gave (what they) did not wear.The only way to eat at the The occasion was because the church had trucks, some gave food, someone gave their heart to the community, "he says.

"The only reason I'm sitting here is because people have reached out and that it has helped me, and I want to keep doing the same thing."

"A hell of a trip"

Among its many causes, the Wade Family Foundation organizes every year a charity event "RunWade" in which its sponsor engages in another pbadion, tailor-made clothing. Wade has long been known as a fashion pioneer.

He currently sports his own line of socks, as well as a range of accessories on his Amazon online store. Wade remains a brand ambbadador for Hublot watches and, in particular, has a lifetime contract with the Chinese sports brand Li-Ning.

Could fashion one day replace the buzz he made in the field? Wade says that he has "the same feeling of freshness" when he sees someone wearing his sock collection as he hits one of his patented rolling clothes in the hallway.

"I did not go to school for fashion, I had to learn the cloth and get involved, so it feels good," he says.

Wade has also begun to become familiar with fine wines. Considering he drank his first drink at age 27, he was a little late catching up for his partnership with D Wade Cellars. Based in Napa Valley, California, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is priced at $ 215.

"I started to like the conversation about wine.I started to like the room where I was in which people drank wine, and I started to like what I felt after being away from wine.It was a little different from drinking other things, "says Wade. "It's an exciting project, if my job is to drink wine, I have an amazing life."

"His mother has all the merit of her thinking (legends)," laughs Wade.

Tuesday in Miami, Wade's career was celebrated throughout his last home game. He scored 30 goals in a win over Philadelphia. Video tributes flocked, including that of Obama. "You made us proud," he says.

With so many things in his life, what will the All-Star do 13 times once the bell rings in Brooklyn after Heat plays the Nets for his last game?

"Exhale, I'm going to look around and understand everything, because it's been a hell of a trip," he says. "I want to be respected for what I brought to the game. I want to be respected for what I brought back from play."

There is no doubt that these wishes have already been realized.