They said small markets can’t deliver classics—well, this Finals is proving otherwise. D-Wade, Bob, and Chris break down how OKC’s young coaching staff outmaneuvered Indy’s vets, flipping Game 6 on the road and putting the Thunder one win away from a title. They talk Halliburton’s clutch gene, why this OKC run is more impressive than any MVP season, and how this unpredictable series might come down to Game 7 fireworks. Forget the big names—this is pure basketball.

They said small markets can&rsquo;t deliver classics&mdash;well, this Finals is proving otherwise. D-Wade, Bob, and Chris break down how OKC&rsquo;s young coaching staff outmaneuvered Indy&rsquo;s vets, flipping Game 6 on the road and putting the Thunder one win away from a title. They talk Halliburton&rsquo;s clutch gene, why this OKC run is more impressive than any MVP season, and how this unpredictable series might come down to Game 7 fireworks. Forget the big names&mdash;this is pure basketball.

Dwyane Wade sits down with pioneers in sports, fashion, music, and business for an intimate conversation about their origins, and the reasons they keep pushing to innovate. These are all-time greats talking through memorable moments from their careers, telling intimate, behind-the-scenes anecdotes that we never saw in the press, journeys, struggles, triumphs, and that shared excitement as they push forward to their next challenge.

WY Network by Dwyane Wade

This NBA Finals is for Pure Basketball Lovers

In this episode of The Checkin with Dwyane Wade, Dwyane, Bob, and Dorell Wright turn the spotlight on co-host Chris Johnson for part one of his full story.

Chris opens up about growing up in Waco, Texas with two supportive fathers, a mother who never said a negative word about his biological dad, and a grandfather named Shot Shot who ran a barbecue business and whistled from blocks away when the streetlights came on. He refused to change his last name at 10 because Magic Johnson was the coldest player he’d ever seen, and his mother used his child support checks to teach him banking and let him buy Jordans and Starter jackets.

He talks about getting subbed out at the park as a kid, training alone on his imagination, a coach who slid plays to him on index cards during history class, and deciding at 13 that if the pros didn’t work out he was going to be one of the best coaches in the game. He also covers rupturing his Achilles, watching 9/11 unfold helpless in his mother’s bed, earning a master’s in counseling at 22 with a 4.2 GPA, and coaching a 16-0 national championship football team before getting his real shot in basketball.

Music Credit: Khari Mateen.

What We Discussed: 


0:00 - Introduction


2:36 - The Family Height Debate and Genealogy


4:19 - Early Athletic Beginnings and Waco Roots


5:54 - Growing Up with Two Fathers in a Blue-Collar Home


8:01 - The Impact of a Mother’s Narrative


10:14 - Choosing Johnson and Financial Lessons from Child Support


14:55 - Discovering His Stepfather and Generation Photos


18:32 - Sharecropper Roots, Height, and Son Isaiah


21:44 - Texas Football Culture and Street Games


24:10 - Grandfather Shot Shot and Barbecue Business


26:42 - Overcoming Playground Rejection and Becoming Multi-Sport


31:40 - Instilling Work Ethic and the Ambition at 13


34:43 - Preacher Roots, Church Life, and Competitive Instincts


39:24 - Mentor Coach Dwayne Silver and the 13-Year-Old Promise


44:43 - VHS Highlight Tapes, Zone Defense, and High School Dominance


50:54 - The Achilles Injury and Transition to Graduate Assistant


52:15 - Loneliness, September 11th, and Critiques of College Systems


59:51 - Master’s in Counseling and Emotional Intelligence


1:02:06 - Coaching High School Football and Basketball in Texas

In this episode of The Checkin with Dwyane Wade, Dwyane, Bob, and Dorell Wright turn the spotlight on co-host Chris Johnson for part one of his full story.
Chris opens up about growing up in Waco, Texas with two supportive fathers, a mother who never said a negative word about his biological dad, and a grandfather named Shot Shot who ran a barbecue business and whistled from blocks away when the streetlights came on. He refused to change his last name at 10 because Magic Johnson was the coldest player he&rsquo;d ever seen, and his mother used his child support checks to teach him banking and let him buy Jordans and Starter jackets.
He talks about getting subbed out at the park as a kid, training alone on his imagination, a coach who slid plays to him on index cards during history class, and deciding at 13 that if the pros didn&rsquo;t work out he was going to be one of the best coaches in the game. He also covers rupturing his Achilles, watching 9/11 unfold helpless in his mother&rsquo;s bed, earning a master&rsquo;s in counseling at 22 with a 4.2 GPA, and coaching a 16-0 national championship football team before getting his real shot in basketball.
Music Credit: Khari Mateen.
What We Discussed:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
0:00 - Introduction
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
2:36 - The Family Height Debate and Genealogy
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
4:19 - Early Athletic Beginnings and Waco Roots
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
5:54 - Growing Up with Two Fathers in a Blue-Collar Home
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
8:01 - The Impact of a Mother&rsquo;s Narrative
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
10:14 - Choosing Johnson and Financial Lessons from Child Support
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
14:55 - Discovering His Stepfather and Generation Photos
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
18:32 - Sharecropper Roots, Height, and Son Isaiah
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
21:44 - Texas Football Culture and Street Games
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
24:10 - Grandfather Shot Shot and Barbecue Business
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
26:42 - Overcoming Playground Rejection and Becoming Multi-Sport
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
31:40 - Instilling Work Ethic and the Ambition at 13
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
34:43 - Preacher Roots, Church Life, and Competitive Instincts
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
39:24 - Mentor Coach Dwayne Silver and the 13-Year-Old Promise
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
44:43 - VHS Highlight Tapes, Zone Defense, and High School Dominance
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
50:54 - The Achilles Injury and Transition to Graduate Assistant
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
52:15 - Loneliness, September 11th, and Critiques of College Systems
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
59:51 - Master&rsquo;s in Counseling and Emotional Intelligence
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
1:02:06 - Coaching High School Football and Basketball in Texas
</li>
</ul>

Chris Johnson: The Trainer Behind the NBA's Biggest Stars 

In this episode of The Checkin with Dwyane Wade, Dwyane and Bob open with pure nostalgia, Bob’s old DJ name “DJ Bowlegs,” his high school dance group “Skinny Boys in the House,” and how Miami teens had to verbally pitch themselves over the phone and verify their weight at Publix before a date.

Dwyane talks about his post-NBA recovery routine, steam, sauna, cold plunge, massages, and chiropractic work, visiting Zaya’s school for three days with his dad waking up to grits and bacon, and Zaya’s 19th birthday at Nobu alongside her second annual Translatable Ball. On business, he shares his pride in Steph Curry joining Li-Ning with the Wade brand and how risky that original signing felt 14 years ago.

They also get into Druski hosting the BET Awards, the new Scary Movie, and Dwyane going full fan mode yelling at the TV during a Bears game before closing out the “But Why?” segment with Bob’s recycled lunch sign peeve and Dwyane going off about people touching his clothes when he’s in white.

 

Music Credit: Khari Mateen.

 

What We Discussed
0:00 - Introduction
0:32 - Drake’s Three Albums And The Iceman Artistry
6:30 - Bob’s DJ Legacy: DJ Bowlegs
7:45 - Retro Dating: High School Verbal Profiles And Scaling at Publix
10:45 - Dance Groups And Phone Serenade Ad-libs
11:45 - Official Show Check-In: Navigating Busy Lives
13:20 - Dwyane’s Longevity Journey And Recovery Regimen
17:15 - Capricorn Astrology And A Natural Drive to Share
20:45 - Protecting Personal Flow And Energy
23:45 - Grits, Bacon, And Visiting Zaya’s School
25:00 - Zaya’s 19th Birthday And The Translatable Ball
28:15 - Parenting Across Multiple Generations
31:30 - True Fulfillment Vs. Fading Sports Trophies
32:45 - Steph Curry’s Record-Breaking Deal With Li-Ning
39:45 - Druski Hosting The BET Awards And Chappelle Comparisons
44:50 - Scary Movie Franchise And Wayans Family Creativity
48:45 - Sports Fandom And Yelling At The Bears
54:00 - Silencing Purple Shirt Guy
55:50 - Returning To The Hall Of Fame For Candace Parker
59:45 - But Why? Bob’s Phone Sign Peeve
1:03:40 - But Why? Dwyane’s Touching And Poking Peeves

In this episode of The Checkin with Dwyane Wade, Dwyane and Bob open with pure nostalgia, Bob&rsquo;s old DJ name &ldquo;DJ Bowlegs,&rdquo; his high school dance group &ldquo;Skinny Boys in the House,&rdquo; and how Miami teens had to verbally pitch themselves over the phone and verify their weight at Publix before a date.
Dwyane talks about his post-NBA recovery routine, steam, sauna, cold plunge, massages, and chiropractic work, visiting Zaya&rsquo;s school for three days with his dad waking up to grits and bacon, and Zaya&rsquo;s 19th birthday at Nobu alongside her second annual Translatable Ball. On business, he shares his pride in Steph Curry joining Li-Ning with the Wade brand and how risky that original signing felt 14 years ago.
They also get into Druski hosting the BET Awards, the new Scary Movie, and Dwyane going full fan mode yelling at the TV during a Bears game before closing out the &ldquo;But Why?&rdquo; segment with Bob&rsquo;s recycled lunch sign peeve and Dwyane going off about people touching his clothes when he&rsquo;s in white.
&nbsp;
Music Credit: Khari Mateen.
&nbsp;
What We Discussed 0:00 - Introduction 0:32 - Drake&rsquo;s Three Albums And The Iceman Artistry 6:30 - Bob&rsquo;s DJ Legacy: DJ Bowlegs 7:45 - Retro Dating: High School Verbal Profiles And Scaling at Publix 10:45 - Dance Groups And Phone Serenade Ad-libs 11:45 - Official Show Check-In: Navigating Busy Lives 13:20 - Dwyane&rsquo;s Longevity Journey And Recovery Regimen 17:15 - Capricorn Astrology And A Natural Drive to Share 20:45 - Protecting Personal Flow And Energy 23:45 - Grits, Bacon, And Visiting Zaya&rsquo;s School 25:00 - Zaya&rsquo;s 19th Birthday And The Translatable Ball 28:15 - Parenting Across Multiple Generations 31:30 - True Fulfillment Vs. Fading Sports Trophies 32:45 - Steph Curry&rsquo;s Record-Breaking Deal With Li-Ning 39:45 - Druski Hosting The BET Awards And Chappelle Comparisons 44:50 - Scary Movie Franchise And Wayans Family Creativity 48:45 - Sports Fandom And Yelling At The Bears 54:00 - Silencing Purple Shirt Guy 55:50 - Returning To The Hall Of Fame For Candace Parker 59:45 - But Why? Bob&rsquo;s Phone Sign Peeve 1:03:40 - But Why? Dwyane&rsquo;s Touching And Poking Peeves

Dwyane Wade Is Still Chasing a Trophy, Just Not The One You’re Thinking

In this Ask Me Anything, Dwyane and Bob take fan questions on career, mindset, and a few surprises.

Dwyane opens up about playing without a meniscus since age 19, multiple knee surgeries, a high pain tolerance, and the intensive leg work his trainers used to keep him on the floor. On killer mentality, he says you’re born with it but it has to be nurtured, and that after retiring he had to go to therapy just to figure out where to put that energy.

His favorite championship is 2006, no hesitation, leading the team at 24 and jumping on the scorer’s table to soak it all in, a moment that later inspired a dance for a movie cameo. On recognition, he says the most meaningful respect came from the fear of the guys he played against, and despite missing the 2008 MVP he’s fully at peace with his legacy.

He also admits his guilty pleasure movie is Pootie Tang and that he watches Fast and Furious because he likes knowing exactly what’s going to happen.

Music Credit: Khari Mateen.

What We Discussed:
0:10  Performing Without a Meniscus
4:22 - Guilty Pleasure Movies & Familiar Plots
6:10 - Nurturing a Killer Mentality
9:17 - 2006 Championship & The Scorer’s Table Celebration
12:44 - Career Recognition, Respect, and Impact

In this Ask Me Anything, Dwyane and Bob take fan questions on career, mindset, and a few surprises.
Dwyane opens up about playing without a meniscus since age 19, multiple knee surgeries, a high pain tolerance, and the intensive leg work his trainers used to keep him on the floor. On killer mentality, he says you&rsquo;re born with it but it has to be nurtured, and that after retiring he had to go to therapy just to figure out where to put that energy.
His favorite championship is 2006, no hesitation, leading the team at 24 and jumping on the scorer&rsquo;s table to soak it all in, a moment that later inspired a dance for a movie cameo. On recognition, he says the most meaningful respect came from the fear of the guys he played against, and despite missing the 2008 MVP he&rsquo;s fully at peace with his legacy.
He also admits his guilty pleasure movie is Pootie Tang and that he watches Fast and Furious because he likes knowing exactly what&rsquo;s going to happen.
Music Credit: Khari Mateen.
What We Discussed:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">0:10&nbsp; Performing Without a Meniscus</li>
<li aria-level="1">4:22 - Guilty Pleasure Movies &amp; Familiar Plots</li>
<li aria-level="1">6:10 - Nurturing a Killer Mentality</li>
<li aria-level="1">9:17 - 2006 Championship &amp; The Scorer&rsquo;s Table Celebration</li>
<li aria-level="1">12:44 - Career Recognition, Respect, and Impact</li>
</ul>

This NBA Finals is for Pure Basketball Lovers

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