See the Cutest Photos of Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade's Family as the Former NBA Player Turns 44 Today

Jason Sargent Saturday, January 17, 2026

- - See the Cutest Photos of Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade's Family as the Former NBA Player Turns 44 Today

Andrea Wurzburger, Zoey Lyttle, Stephanie SengweJanuary 17, 2026 at 6:00 AM

Alexander Tamargo/Getty

Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union and their family

Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union have always put family first.

The pair first met while hosting a Super Bowl party together back in 2007, though things didn't get romantic until 2009. They split briefly in January 2013, but reconciled and were engaged that December. Union and Wade then got married in August 2014, in an intimate wedding held in Miami.

On Nov. 7, 2018, the pair welcomed their first baby together, daughter Kaavia James Union Wade. Kaavia joined older siblings Dahveon, Zaire, Zaya and Xavier, whom Wade welcomed in previous relationships.

In 2020, their daughter Zaya came out as transgender and the two have been supportive all the way through. "She's the strong one in this family. She's a hero," Dwyane said in June 2021.

"It's our family's job to make sure that we listen to her. We listen to the doctors. We ask questions and we formulate our own ideas of how Zaya should be and should be raised in this world and we don't allow others to do that for us."

As Dwyane Wade celebrates his 44th birthday on Jan. 17, 2026, check out some of the cutest photos he's shared with his family.

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Celebrating Dad

Alexander Tamargo/Getty

Dahveon Morris, Zaire Wade, Dwyane Wade, Kaavia Wade, Gabrielle Union and Zaya Wade

In October 2024, Dwyane Wade got a statue at the Kaseya Center in Miami and the family was on deck to support their patriarch at the 003 Statues Are Forever Party with FWRD.

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Bonding Moments

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Zaya Wade and Dwyane Wade

Dwyane hung out with his oldest daughter during the Netflix is a joke fest in May 2024.

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Stylish Touchdown

Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic

Gabrielle Union, Zaya Wade and Dwyane Wade

The Wades made a stylish appearance at the Out100 Celebration that December.

While accepting the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award earlier in the year, for his work advocating for the transgender community, Dwyane noted he was “just a parent doing what a good parent should do.”

“This is just part of the Wade family, all the things that we do …,” he said at the time. “We feel that in this space to make the world a better place, you have to have acceptance.”

“She didn't ask for this extra excitement in life,” Wade said of Zaya. “She just wanted to be a kid and do kid things and live her life and be selfish and worry about herself. That's what you're supposed to do at her age, worry about you. But she's thinking about a larger community, and so I'm damn proud of her as a father.”

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Four of a Kind

Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

Zaya Wade, Kaavia James Wade, Dwyane Wade, Zaire Wade

Dwyane and his mini-mes posed together as they attended Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Induction, at which he was also inducted as part of the class of 2023.

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Priceless Moments

Dwyane Wade/Instagram

Dwyane Wade, Kaavia Union Wade

Kaavia spent quality time playing with dad in this scenic flick.

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Family Time

Gabrielle Union/Instagram

Kaavia James Union Wade, Dwyane Wade, Sylvester Union, and Gabrielle Union

"Happy Father’s Day to my two favorite Dads. My Dad, who is fighting dementia everyday to hold onto his precious memories of his children and grandchildren and all the kids and adults he’s adopted as family along the way," Gabrielle captioned under this sweet pic for Father's Day 2025.

She added, "And my husband who fights daily for the freedom, rights, opportunities and peace of his children and others around the world. Cheers to great Dads,"

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Boys' Time

Allen Berezovsky/Getty

Dwyane Wade and Xavier Wade

Dwyane and son Xavier spent some quality time at a Los Angeles Clippers vs. Utah Jazz game.

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Playing Ball

Meg Oliphant/Getty Dwyane Wade and his son Zaire Wade

Zaire, who is a talented basketball player himself, was snapped having some fun on the court with his superstar dad.

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Smile for the Camera

Supportive, loving and forever making us jealous of their family vacations, the Wades are the definition of #FamilyGoals.

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Four of a Kind

zaya wade/instagram

Zaya posted a sweet group photo with her dad, her stepmom and her older brother on Instagram. "Wades 🫶🏾," she wrote in the caption.

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Making Memories

Dwyane Wade/Instagram

Looks like a field day for Kaavia and Dad! Dwyane posted some adorable shots from a day spent outside with his daughter, dubbing it "#Daddurday" in the caption.

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Tropical Holiday

Gabrielle Union/instagram

Christmas 2022 seemed full of sun and fun for this trio. In a joint Instagram post, the couple shared a Reel of them posing with their daughter, who wore a Santa-themed outfit on the holiday.

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Out of this World

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty for Disney

Union voiced Meridian Clade in Disney's animated film Strange World, and her husband and daughter showed their support at the movie's premiere in November 2022.

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Another Year of Love

Dwyane Wade/Instagram

Ahead of Union's 50th birthday, the actress posted a selfie with Kaavia and Wade to share her appreciation for her loved ones.

"As we start this journey across the world for my 50th, I just want to luxuriate in my gratitude for my family, my amazing friends and all the friends I haven't even met in person who have kept this train on the tracks this year, even after I collided with myself," she wrote in her Instagram caption.

"Thank y'all for rockin with the old homie. I appreciate you guys more than you can imagine. #WadeWorldTour2022 continues 🌍🙏🏾🎉🎂🥳🎈#ScorpioSeason"

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Beachy Keen

The Wades and their youngest looked ready for a sandy day as they rounded out summer 2022.

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Seeing Triple?

Gabrielle Union Instagram

It's hard to beat this adorable trio!

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Chillin' Out

Dwyane Wade/Instagram

Kaavia and her dad cozied up on the couch and took a peek at his phone together.

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Dad Twins Too!

Kaavia James Union Wade/instagram

On little Kaavia's personal Instagram account, she and Wade posted some silly selfies. "I stole his ENTIRE face. I meannnnn, can you take us!!? #Twinning," read the photo's caption.

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Movie Magic

Gabrielle Union/Instagram

Both Zaya and Kaavia glammed up with mom and dad for the premiere of Union's Cheaper By the Dozen remake in March 2022.

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Holiday Travels

Dwyane Wade/Instagram

This family loves a Christmas away from home! In 2021, the couple brought their daughter to Hawaii to celebrate the holiday the tropical way.

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Mini Me

Dwyane Wade/Instagram

The proud dad twinned with daughter Kaavia in this adorable selfie, snapped while on their holiday vacation.

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Bonus Mom Love

After Wade confirmed to Ellen DeGeneres that his daughter Zaya is transgender, Zaya's stepmom had some sweet and encouraging words to share about her daughter in a clip she posted on Instagram: "Meet Zaya. She's compassionate, loving, whip smart and we are so proud of her. It's ok to listen to, love & respect your children exactly as they are. Love and light good people."

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Family Forever

Zaya and her big brother Zaire were pictured at a Pride parade.

Dwyane told Ellen DeGeneres on Feb. 11, 2019, that he fully supports Zaya's gender identity.

"When our child comes home with a question, when our child comes home with an issue, when our child comes home with anything, it's our job as parents to listen to that, to give them the best information we can, the best feedback we can," Wade told DeGeneres. "And that doesn't change because sexuality is now involved."

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Flower Power