(CNN) -- Global basketball icon Dwyane Wade is making a concerted effort to get his head around an altogether different ball game which he admits is the "number one sport in the world".
And it is parental responsibility that has piqued the eight-time NBA all star's interest in soccer.
"I'm trying to get into it," the Miami Heat star told CNN. "My youngest son Zion is playing soccer now, so I've got to learn the sport.
"So this season I'm really diving into soccer, learning the rules of the game. With Zion, and also my lady, they both love soccer, so I got to get into it."
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Wade is yet to pick a football team to support, but the 30-year-old is keen to sample the atmosphere of the planet's favorite sport.
"I need to learn about it first, but I do want to go to a game," he explained. "I want to feel the crowd and the energy -- it's the reason that soccer is the number one sport in the world."
It is football's global appeal that has prompted the NBA to make a strategic marketing push in targeting key markets like China, Africa and the Middle East.
That campaign has been boosted by the success of players like China's Yao Ming, whose nine-year stint with the Houston Rockets raised the profile of the league in Asia.
Meanwhile Spanish brother Pau and Marc Gasol, who play for Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies respectively, helped their country to a silver medal at the recent London Olympic Games -- when the U.S. beat Spain in the final to take gold.
Miami Heat fans celebrate the team's win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals on Thursday, June 21 in Miami.
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Manchester United is the most valuable brand in football according to a report by independent consultancy Brand Finance. The global appeal and on-field success of the 19-time English champions has helped establish a brand worth an estimated $853 million.
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"It's made (the NBA) very global," said Wade. "The international players are very talented, and it's been getting better and better. The game is so big, around the world now, as big as it's ever been.
"We take some pride in that. But we got a lot of work to do over here, because they keep getting better and better around the world because of this game. We're just happy to be the guys that are able to take this game globally."
Of all the overseas arrivals that have made their mark in the NBA, Wade singled out for special mention Germany's Dirk Nowitzki, who was named NBA finals MVP as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Heat to the 2011 championship.
"You look and say Dirk is probably the one that has the most of the respect from the standpoint of what he's done for so many years in the NBA.
"Obviously they beat us in the finals and winning the championship really put him up there in his place where he should be in our time. But there are other players that have been there before I played that could be named as well."
Despite the NBA's growth, it has some way to go before it can rival football's worldwide appeal given the last soccer World Cup final saw global television audience figures peak at 530.9 million.
"It's very big," said Wade on basketball's continued expansion. "We got a way to go to catch up with soccer, but I think our game is doing very, very well. We can be very proud of that but we have still got a lot of work to do."
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Fans celebrate the Miami Heat's victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals.
Fans watch game five of the 2012 NBA finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat at Havana Nines in Miami.
A couple kisses as Miami Heat fans celebrate the Heat's victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals in Miami.
Chris Bosh No. 1 of the Miami Heat celebrates after the Heat won 121-106 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the 2012 NBA Finals on Thursday, June 21.
LeBron James No. 6 and Dwyane Wade No. 3 of the Heat celebrate late in the fourth quarter against the Thunder.
LeBron James No. 6 of the Heat celebrates late in the fourth quarter against the Thunder.
Kevin Durant No. 35 of the Thunder looks on dejected late in the fourth quarter against the Heat.
LeBron James, left, and the fallen Dwyane Wade, center, of the Heat go for the ball before the tumbled James Harden, center top, and Serge Ibaka, right, of the Thunder.
Shane Battier, right, of the Heat and Russell Westbrook, left, of the Thunder vie for the ball.
Russell Westbrook No. 0 of the Thunder covers his face as he kneels on the court in the second half against the Heat.
Mike Miller, left, of the Heat is guarded by Russell Westbrook, right, of the Thunder.
Kevin Durant No. 35 and Russell Westbrook No. 0 of the Thunder look on against the Heat.
LeBron James, left, of the Heat goes to the basket against Serge Ibaka, center, and Kendrick Perkins, right, of the Thunder.
LeBron James of the Heat scores against the Thunder.
Chris Bosh, No. 1 of the Heat, fights for control of the opening tip-off against Serge Ibaka, No. 9 of the Thunder.
Dwyane Wade, No. 3 of the Heat, reacts in the first quarter against the Thunder.
LeBron James, No. 6 of the Heat, attempts a shot in the first half against James Harden, No. 13 of the Thunder.
Serge Ibaka, No. 9 of the Thunder, reacts in the first half against the Heat.
Kevin Durant, No. 35 of the Thunder, hangs on the rim after a dunk in the first half against the Heat. View photos from Game four of the NBA Finals.
Bayern Munich's players and fans were distraught after losing Saturday's European Champions League to Chelsea, but the German team's brand was second on the list, valued at $786 million.
Real Madrid recently pipped Barcelona to the Spanish title, but both clubs have suffered setbacks financially. Both brands decreased, by 7% and 8% respectively, as a result of the eurozone crisis and its impact on the Spanish economy.
Chelsea's brand value was significantly boosted by the European triumph. The west London club, backed by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, is ranked fifth on the list valued at $398 million.
Manchester City's dramatic Premier League title win has increased the value of the Abu Dhabi-owned English club's brand, putting it eighth on the list, worth an estimated $302 million.
The 2011 Major League Soccer champions Los Angeles Galaxy had the honor of meeting President Barack Obama earlier this month. Galaxy, 50th on the list, still struggle to attract commercial rights deals which compare to the club's European counterparts.
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