Dwyane Wade Spills the Tea on a Tough Year

RELATED: LeBron James Breaks NBA Record in Historic Performance

Year Nine Was the Hardest

NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union have been open about the fact that their marriage has not always been smooth. During a February 2025 appearance on Today with Jenna and Friends, Union revealed that year nine of their marriage was the most difficult period they have faced together. The couple married in 2014, which means the tough stretch she referenced lined up with 2023, a year that brought a serious health crisis into their home.

In January 2025, Wade revealed on his podcast The Why with Dwyane Wade that he had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in late 2023. He told listeners that he went to the doctor for a routine checkup and mentioned some stomach issues and changes in his urine stream. Doctors performed a full body scan and discovered a tumor on one of his kidneys. After consulting with multiple specialists who all gave the same recommendation, Wade underwent surgery in December 2023 to have 40 percent of his kidney removed. The tumor was later confirmed to be cancerous.

The Toll on Their Marriage

Union described the experience as traumatic for Wade, for their marriage, and for their entire family. She said the level of vulnerability required during his recovery was something neither of them was fully prepared for. Wade needed his family to be comfortable with his vulnerability, but he also needed to be comfortable with it himself. Union said it was a challenge to give grace and receive it during that period.

Despite the difficulty, Wade maintained a positive public presence throughout. After the news of his diagnosis became public, he posted on Instagram saying his smile has never faded. But behind the scenes, the couple was navigating the kind of stress that tests even the strongest relationships. Union has been candid about the fact that trust and vulnerability have been ongoing areas of growth in their marriage, and the cancer diagnosis brought those issues to the surface in a way they could not avoid.

A History of Working Through It

This is not the first time Wade and Union have been transparent about their struggles. Union has previously spoken about her fertility challenges, including multiple miscarriages she experienced while trying to expand their family. The couple eventually welcomed their daughter Kaavia James Wade via surrogate in 2018. Union wrote about the emotional toll of those experiences in a 2021 essay for TIME magazine.

The couple has also navigated public conversations about their financial arrangement. In 2023, Union made headlines when she discussed splitting expenses 50/50 with Wade. She later revisited those comments during a 2025 appearance on the Balanced Black Girl podcast, acknowledging that her perspective on the arrangement has evolved over time.

Where They Stand Now

Wade and Union celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in 2024, and both have indicated that the hardest chapter of their marriage ultimately made them stronger. Wade is now focused on his post basketball career, which includes media work, business ventures, and his podcast. Union continues to act and has been vocal about using her platform to discuss topics like mental health, marriage, and motherhood. Their willingness to share the difficult parts of their relationship has resonated with fans who appreciate the honesty over the typical celebrity image of perfection.