It’s that time of the year! Intense and exciting, the big celebration of college basketball is here. It is one of the biggest sporting events in the United States, and everyone is on the edge of their seats. Last year was certainly historic; the tickets for the women’s March Madness sold out faster than the men’s, as per NBC anchor Trenni Casey. USC star JuJu Watkins, UConn’s Paige Bueckers, and Marquette’s Kameron Jones, and more notable players have fans barely able to contain their excitement as they await the college basketball action. And so is Golden Eagles player Dwyane Wade, who made a hilarious comparison this night.

As the 3x NBA champ appeared on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, he touched on various highlights from last year. When March Madness was mentioned, a broad smile spread across his face. And it widened even more when the host brought out an old nostalgic picture of him from his playing days at Marquette. 

“I go get my old jersey. I put it on. I get back in mode. March Madness to me is the best time to watch basketball.It’s just the way that those kids put on. It’s before the fame, before the money, before all that. It’s just about what you love, and you get an opportunity on the biggest stage in college basketball to go out there and give it everything,” Wade said.

When asked to share his thoughts on the upcoming event, he was quick to express his excitement. The 3x NBA champ even drew parallels between March Madness and a Beyoncé concert. “To me, March Madness is like the week that Beyoncé is coming to L.A. And my wife and my daughters are getting ready for Beyoncé. Outfits out, they’re talking to all their friends, they doing the dances. That’s how March Madness is for me,” he said. 

This event will always hold special meaning for Wade. Nearly two decades ago, in 2003, he led the Marquette Golden Eagles to the Final Four. Marquette entered the NCAA Tournament that year as a No. 3 seed. And then managed to head to the Sweet 16, where Wade and the Golden Eagles faced No. 2 seed Pittsburgh, where Wade delivered a game-high 22 points, clinching a 77-74 win. The win sent the team to its first Elite Eight since their 1977 championship season.

Playing against the No. 1 overall seed Kentucky, the Miami Heat legend hit an impressive 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead Marquette to an 83-69 upset and finally a place in the Final Four. However, the thrilling journey for Wade and Marquette came to an end after defeat to Kansas. Regardless, Wade’s contribution to the university remains unforgettable. It’s no surprise Wade feels that March Madness rivals to Beyoncé concert.

Dwyane Wade’s family love Beyonce!

One thing about the Wades is that they love concerts and parties. Wade’s eldest daughter, Zaya, is a big Beyoncé fan. Not to mention, Gabrielle Union, who once claimed to have attended the same school as Beyoncé, is also a fan. So, it was obvious that the family had to attend Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour in Los Angeles on the singer’s birthday.

Since it was Beyoncé’s birthday, Queen Bey requested that fans wear silver. All three ladies had added silver embellishments into their outfits. While Zaya wore silver jewelry, Union wore a silver chain top. “She (Zaya) is the biggest Beyoncé fan and she was in Club Renaissance and had the time of her life. It was such an amazing show. Bey is such an amazing woman and performer and it was a massive celebration that felt like something far beyond a concert,” Union told PEOPLE. 

Union also decided to bring their youngest, Kaavia, who was four at the time. “It was Kaavia’s first concert outside of seeing characters perform at Disneyland. It was way past her bedtime since she goes to bed no later than 7 and Bey doesn’t go on until 8:30/9. She was absolutely delirious,” she said. The Bring It On actress shared how excited their daughter was for Blue Ivy’s performance. We can see why Wade says March Madness is like Beyonce’s concert to him.