Dwyane Wade Says It's Important to Give 4-Year-Old Kaavia "Freedom" to Be Herself

Sports fans know now-retired NBA point guard Dwyane Wade best for his ability to sink shot after shot on the basketball court, but he's also a proud dad to five kids. Dwyane's little crew includes a son he shares with his former partner Aja Metoyer, another son and daughter with his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches, his adopted nephew, and a young daughter named Kaavia whom he shares with his wife, Gabrielle Union.

The couple often share glimpses into their family life on social media, like on the Fourth of July when they jointly posted a series of photos on Instagram recapping their lakeside holiday together. "Waded for moments like this 🖤," the couple captioned the post, adding, "#HOFSummer #LakeLife #maythe4thbewithyou." In a May 8 interview with Bloomberg Originals, though, Union offered some new insight into her family: their finances.

At the time, Union made some waves online by saying that she and Dwyane split everything "50/50." But Dwyane later elaborated on those comments in a June 12 interview on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast, revealing that he and his wife pay for their own families and personal lives, though, when it comes to their daughter Kaavia, they split everything down the middle.

And it turns out, Kaavia herself had her own take on the matter. In an Instagram video shared shortly after Union's initial comments about splitting her bills with Dwyane, the actor asked her daughter whether she splits her money 50/50 with her family. The tot quickly answered, "Sixty," causing Union to fall to the floor laughing.

The couple's discussion of their finances isn't the first time they've opened up about a tricky topic. After Dwyane's marriage to the "Perfect Find" star in 2014, the couple was incredibly open and candid about their fertility struggles due to Union's adenomyosis diagnosis. After experiencing "eight or nine" painful pregnancy losses, Union and Dwyane opted to go the surrogacy route, and in 2018, they welcomed Kaavia into their family. They've been sharing their little one, and their entire family, with the world ever since, and in May, Union called motherhood the "best role of my life" in a sweet Mother's Day post.

In August, the proud parents opened up about how they decided to move out of Florida to protect daughter Zaya, who is trans. In Parents's first-ever digital issue, Dwyane said about their 2020 movie to California, "There are a lot of reasons we decided California was best for our family and finding a community for Zaya was a big part of that. We felt that California was a place that would allow her to blossom and grow. She's going to be a junior in high school now and she's been able to be accepted and become her here."

Read ahead to meet every member of Dwyane and Union's blended brood!

Zaire Blessing Dwyane Wade
Getty | Juan Ocampo

Zaire Blessing Dwyane Wade

Dwayne shares his son, Zaire — who was born in 2002 — with his ex-wife and high school sweetheart, Siohvaughn Funches. Zaire has inherited some serious basketball skills from his dad, as several colleges offered him spots on their respective teams when he was wrapping up high school. He is currently playing on the Basketball Africa League for the Cape Town Tigers.

Zaya Wade

Zaya is the second child that Dwyane and Siohvaughn share. Born on May 29, 2007, she made headlines after attending the 2019 Pride parade in Miami with her siblings and stepmom in tow. In February 2020, Dwyane discussed Zaya's gender identity on "The Ellen Degeneres Show."

"Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home and said: 'Hey, so I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward I'm ready to live my truth. And I want to be referenced as 'she' and 'her.' I would love for you guys to call me Zaya,'" he told Ellen DeGeneres.

Since then, Zaya has been open about the challenges and rewards of being out and proud. "There are some highs and some lows," she told Dazed in March. "I mean, a lot of attention equals a lot more hate, a lot of transphobia, and [there is] a lot of pressure on me, but I'm also able to reach more people. The positives of having such an inclusive platform completely outweigh all of the negativity online."

Xavier Zechariah Wade
Getty | Michael Reaves

Xavier Zechariah Wade

Dwyane welcomed his third child, Xavier, on Nov. 10, 2013, with his longtime friend Aja Metoyer. In his photographic memoir, "Dwyane," Dwyane shared that raising his youngest son has its challenges because Xavier is not living with him and Union.

Dahveon Morris

In 2011, Dwyane was awarded full custody of his nephew, Dahveon (pictured on the far right), by a judge in Florida, per the Miami Herald. Although Dwyane's sister and Dahveon's mother, Deanna Morris, still has parental rights, Dwyane has been raising Dahveon ever since. He's the oldest of the crew, born on Sept. 17, 2001.

Kaavia James Union Wade

Dwyane and Union welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Kaavia, via surrogate on Nov. 7, 2018. According to Union, Kaavia has always had plenty of attitude. "She looks just like Dad, but I'd like to think the attitude is from me," she told People. "She will stare into your soul and tell you about yourself through her eyes."

Kaavia is quite literally *always* a mood, as proven by her parents' nickname for her, Shady Baby. Union and Dwyane even released a children's book of the same name inspired by Kaav. Union has also been sure to surround her daughter with positivity, and in March, she shared a sweet Instagram video showing herself repeating affirmations like "I am brave" alongside her daughter in front of a mirror.

Union told Parents in August that they're so excited for Kaavia to start pre-K this year. "I hope she learns how to expand her friend circle and feel comfortable with new people and learning new things. And I hope she approaches it all with gusto," she said.

Dwyane also said it's particularly important for them to help Kaavia learn to stand up for herself. "We give her the freedom to have a say in her space, her appearance, and the things she wants to do," he explained. "The only way we're going to know our child is by listening to her, watching her, and seeing what she's interested in."

More Pictures of Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade's Kids
Getty | Michael Reaves

More Pictures of Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade's Kids