Dwyane Wade Loves Gabrielle Union

Matthew Rolston/Essence
Matthew Rolston/Essence

NBA star Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union may be coming up on two years of dating, but for those wondering when the couple is going to tie the knot, you'll probably be left wondering a while longer. "We're not rushing it. Both of us have been married before, and we understand that if we choose to marry again, we want it to be right," the 29-year-old Wade says in the February issue of Essence. "We both took failing at marriage hard. The next time it's gotta' be forever."

Union and former pro football player Chris Howard divorced in 2006 after five years of marriage, while Wade's split from high school sweetheart and mother of his two children, Siohvaughn Funches, in 2007 generated more media attention over the last couple of years as the divorce got nastier. Funches launched a variety of accusations against the Miami Heat player, and both filed for sole custody of their kids.

The couple is in "no rush" to get married. Matthew Rolston/Essence
The couple is in "no rush" to get married. Matthew Rolston/Essence

"A lot of times celebrity couples get together because it's an easy way to generate press," Union, who's 10 years Wade's senior, tells the magazine. "One person in the spotlight dates another in the spotlight to increase their light. But Dwyane doesn't need any more light and I don't either. We're pretty well lit individually."

Press attention or not, Wade is clearly smitten with his woman, sharing three of the things he loves about the "Meet Dave" actress: "Obviously her smile. It lights up my day … she has a great aura that makes it easy to love her -- and she's hot."

The February issue of Essence hits newsstands on January 12.

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