Wade on taking activist stand: 'Actions speak louder than words'

Dwyane Wade didn't call anyone out in particular, but the NBA superstar says that athletes intent on taking a stand on social issues should do more than protesting or making symbolic gestures.

"Actions speak louder than the words you say," Wade told ESPN's Michael Wallace Saturday. "We have to continue to do things in our communities to try to raise the bar. The great thing about being an athlete today is you can make a stand for what you believe in, and it's OK."

Wade was speaking after his charity foundation's community bike ride in Miami Saturday, in which disadvantaged youth and police officers - among others - ride together along a six-mile course.

Still a part of the fabric of South Florida, Wade and the Heat shocked the league in July by parting ways after 13 seasons. Signing with the Bulls in his hometown of Chicago, his family experienced tragedy last month when Wade's cousin was shot and killed while pushing her baby in a stroller - becoming one of that city's reported 524 murders in 2016.

"When something hits you the way it hit us, it becomes (more) real," Wade said. "And the great thing about my family is we come together more and try to be stronger and make more of an impact as much as we can. No matter what shape, size or color you are, you were invited (to the bike event) today to understand how important community is and how strong we are when we come together."

Wade also stressed that communication is always key, especially between groups such as marginalized people and the police.

"First of all, it's not OK," Wade said when asked about a suspected anti-police shooting rampage in Philadelphia on Friday night. "I'm not promoting that killing is OK. I'm a supporter of my community, the African-American community. I'm a believer in Black Lives Matter, 100 percent. But I'm also a believer that it's not OK for anyone to kill. It's all about communication.

"I think police need to do a better job of communicating to the community of what they're looking for and what they're out there doing," Wade continued. "And it's important for the community to have an opportunity to communicate back to them as well."