May 2 (UPI) -- Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade surprised James Shaw Jr., who intervened in a recent fatal shooting, with an appearance Wednesday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Shaw, 29, wrestled a gun away from Travis Reinking inside a Waffle House on April 22 in Antioch, Tenn. Reinking is accused of killing four people and wounding two others before fleeing the restaurant.
During his appearance, Shaw told Ellen that his favorite things in the world are basketball and his 4-year-old daughter. Shaw said he enjoys playing shooting guard and point guard. He had no heisitation when Ellen asked who his favorite basketball player is.
"Dwyane Wade," Shaw said. "I like the way he carries himself off of the court."
Related
"Let's see how he carries himself out here," Ellen responded. "Dwyane, come on out."
The two men embraced on stage before Wade took a seat next to Shaw.
"I look at you, I know you don't want to be called a hero, but I look at you as an American hero," Wade said. "I would sit accross from you as I am now. And I would say, obviously how brave you are."
"But for me, when I sit down with my kids and I sit down and talk with them about role models ... who I want them to look up to, I would tell them to look up to James Shaw Jr. Thanks for being there man."
Shaw said he wants to bring awareness to the mental health problem in the United States.
Wade also gave him a $20,000 check. The 12-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion has made a habit of getting involved when tragedies have occurred this year throughout the United States.
He previously donated $200,000 to the March For Our Lives fundraiser, helping students from his hometown of Chicago attend the rally on March 24 in Washington, D.C. He also made a surprise visit in March to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to visit students after the Feb. 14 shooting left 17 people dead on the Parkland, Fla. campus.
Wade, 36, has yet to announce if he will return for his 16th NBA season.
