National Basketball Association

Wade wins custody battle for sons

Published Mar. 13, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Dwyane Wade has been awarded custody of his two sons, ending a long legal fight with his ex-wife.

Wade's children arrived in Miami on Friday, and will remain with their father going forward. Wade's Miami Heat teammates gave him an ovation when he revealed the news to them in the locker room Saturday, and the boys are expected to start at a new school in South Florida on Monday.

Wade tells The Associated Press that ''a huge weight is off my back,'' and that he's beyond relieved that the fight is over.

''My life changed in a huge way,'' Wade told the AP. ''Mentally, I've been preparing for it for over a year now. To me, it's bigger than that. For me, it shows a lot of people that you need to fight to be in your kids' lives sometimes. You fight until you can't fight any more. That's all I was trying to be, a father in his kids' lives.''

The boys' mother, Siohvaughn Wade, will have what the court described as ''regular parenting time'' on alternating weekends in Miami, as well as several other times during the year, including Mother's Day.

The 102-page ruling, filed Friday in Chicago, ''brings to an end a custody trial that was one of the longest ever in Cook County history,'' said Wade's attorney, James Pritikin.

''The court agreed the best home is with Mr. Wade and that he is also willing to foster a relationship with the children's mother,'' Pritkin said. ''I know he will continue to be a phenomenal parent.''

Wade's divorce was granted last June, after a lengthy separation. The financial portion of the divorce remains unsettled.