In an interview with BasketNews, Dwyane Wade revealed he leaves the door open for a future career as a commentator. Now, at the Paris 2024 Olympics, he sees a couple of teams that can really cause damage to the USA despite his team having so many NBA stars on the roster.
It was a pleasant Miami Heat alumni meeting on the sidelines of Pierre Mauroy Stadium. After the USA's victory over Puerto Rico in the Olympic Games group stage, USA's assistant coach Erik Spoelstra stopped by the commentators' table to chat with his former player, Dwyane Wade.
Wade, 42, makes his game-calling debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the color commentator alongside play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle on NBC.
Wade's and Spoelstra's duo, who won two NBA rings together, were soon joined by another champ, LeBron James, and current Miami star player Bam Adebayo. Shortly after LeBron left for the locker room, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and his right-hand man, Mark Tatum, approached Wade.
Serbia
USA
South Sudan
Puerto Rico
BrazilAs these NBA icons conversed, a kid managed to slip past floor-level security and sprinted toward the group. Apparently, he just wanted his idol's signature on a jersey he had pieced together. Security caught the kid right before he reached Wade, but the three-time NBA champion didn't hesitate to fulfill the young guy's dream.
There's no statistical proof, but Wade is probably the best player ever to commentate on an Olympic basketball tournament from the sidelines of the world's biggest stage.
A 13-time NBA All-Star, 8-time All-NBA team member, NBA Hall of Famer, and a member of the NBA's top 75 list, is taking this opportunity with immense pleasure.
"What I like about it is that I'm a former basketball player. I happen to be one of the greatest to play as well, but I'm a former basketball player. I get a chance just to give my perspective of the game," Dwyane Wade told BasketNews while leaving the Olympic venue in Lille.
"I'm not an analyst. I didn't go to school to be a broadcaster. But I love talking about the game, so I appreciate everybody who enjoyed my perspective because my perspective is just like someone sitting at home, and now they would talk about the game."
A Beijing 2008 Olympic champion is heading to Paris to cover the remainder of the Olympics, where the knockout stage will unfold.
NBC, along with Amazon and ESPN, acquired the media rights to broadcast NBA games starting in the 2025-26 season. Wade mentioned it was too early to say if his appearance at the Olympics marks the beginning of a new chapter in his commentary career covering the NBA but didn't deny it's a possible option.
"I'm just having fun with it as well, and I think it could be a future if everything lines up the way it needs to. But I'm not going to put any pressure on it either," Wade said when asked by BasketNews if he was considering future options to work as a commentator broadcasting NBA games.
No other Olympic basketball commentator has ever captured the attention of players quite like Dwyane Wade.
Dillon Brooks blew kisses toward D-Wade after hitting threes for Canada, and the Greek veteran Kostas Papanikolaou discussed some 50/50 referee calls with him during the game.
On the flip side, Wade also takes the opportunity to meet his new favorite players, like Franz Wagner, following Wagner's 26-point spectacle in the loudest game between Germany and France.
Wade posted an Instagram story with a picture of Wagner captioned, "Got a new fan in me." The 22-year-old German forward later shared the story, expressing his delight as a lifelong Wade fan.
Wade hasn't been commentating on all the Olympic basketball tournament games but has covered all USA matches, Canada games, and the Germany vs. France showdown.
During this experience, he's had the chance to view NBA players in a different light.
"Well, it's been so many guys. I mean, obviously, in the NBA, you get an opportunity to see a lot of players in this field, but you don't get the opportunity to see them play the roles that they're playing here with their respective countries," Wade told BasketNews when asked about the biggest standouts who made him the best impression in Lille.
"And so you get to see Dennis Schroder go off and be the player that I'm sure everyone in Germany loves," he added.
"I put on my Instagram that I've just become a big fan of Franz Wagner. You don't get to see Orlando Magic a lot on TV. And so to be able to see him up close and personal, we just saw something pretty special," Wade praised Wagner.
"This guy has a big, bright future in front of him. So just the chance to sit there and watch the pros do what they do best... It's incredible."
As the USA games are his primary focus, Wade has been able to evaluate their performance following a 3-0 record in the group stage.
Watching the top-level competition, Wade is aware of the significant challenge ahead for his friends.
"I mean, obviously, Germany and Canada. From the naked eye, you would think those two teams are probably the biggest threats," Wade responded to BasketNews.
"This is the USA team. This is one of the best teams we've ever seen put together. This team is very professional, but it only takes one game. And I think that's the scary thing about it because the talent in the field is pretty good," said Wade. "Like I said, we have 68 players total in this field, which makes it very competitive."
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