Dean Wade

Wade was born in Wichita, Kansas, to Jay and Trish Wade. His family lived briefly in Inman before settling in the small town of St. John. Athletics ran in the household. His father played football briefly at Kansas State University, and his mother coached volleyball and track at St. John High School, guiding the volleyball program to three state titles.

At St. John High School, Wade played four seasons of varsity basketball. He led his team to three state championships and collected multiple All-State honors. By his senior year in 2015, the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association named him Mr. Kansas Basketball. He also earned a spot as a Parade All-American alongside 29 other high school players nationwide.

Wade enrolled at Kansas State University in 2015 and earned Big 12 All-Newcomer Team honors as a freshman. He started 31 games during his opening year. His production steadily increased over the following seasons.

His junior campaign proved to be a breakthrough. Wade averaged 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. He repeated as a first-team All-Big 12 selection as a senior, averaging 12.9 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds. A foot injury cut his final collegiate season short. He completed his time in Manhattan with a bachelor's degree in social science.

Wade went undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft. In July 2019, he signed a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He spent the bulk of his rookie year with Cleveland's G League affiliate, the Canton Charge, where he started 29 of 30 games and averaged 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds. Cleveland converted his deal into a multi-year NBA contract in July 2020.

Over the next several seasons, Wade became an important frontcourt piece under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. He made his first NBA start in February 2021 against the Atlanta Hawks and recorded his first double-double that May with 19 points and 12 rebounds against the Indiana Pacers. Injuries interrupted his progress at times, including a torn meniscus in his right knee in March 2022. The Cavaliers retained him with contract extensions.

On October 30, 2022, Wade, Kevin Love, and Donovan Mitchell combined to hit 22 three-pointers against the New York Knicks, setting an NBA record for three teammates in a single game. His most dramatic performance came on March 5, 2024. Wade scored a career-high 23 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter, to erase a 22-point deficit against the Boston Celtics.

After seven seasons in Cleveland, Wade entered free agency in 2026. On July 6, 2026, he signed a four-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. The signing added a proven perimeter defender and stretch forward to Philadelphia's frontcourt rotation alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.