Team USA won their 17th gold medal in men’s basketball competition. Their 5th consecutive gold medal dates back to the Redeem Team in 2008. LeBron James is the only active player from that squad who also won at the Paris Olympics. His teammate made his Olympic debut as a play-by-by commentator and was a fan favorite. Although there is no official medal for Dwyane Wade this time, the 3x NBA champion shone in his color commentary stint.

After his first season with the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade finished 3rd in the ROTY rankings. LeBron James finished first and Carmelo Anthony was second. After the first season, where he averaged 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, he was called up for the national team, featuring in back-to-back Olympic games.

Dwyane Wade and his Olympic debut

“We really had no clue what we were getting into. We were just happy to be named to the Olympic team and be playing.” Wade revealed via The Dream Team Tapes. “We got the call last minute and just saw ourselves as the roster fillers.” Team USA was 3 times consecutive champion the run which started with the Dream Team. The team director at the time stated that due to injuries of other players, a core of a young team had to be formed.

In their first game against Puerto Rico, the team suffered a shocking loss (73-92). Dwyane Wade played for 21 minutes and contributed with 10 points. He also helped the team with 3 rebounds and 3 steals. In the second quarter, Team USA could only manage to score 7 points while Puerto Rico managed to score 28.

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In the second game against Greece, the USA registered their first win of the campaign. Wade played fewer minutes (13) and scored 6 points and 3 assists. Continuing their momentum, they beat Australia and Wade was back in double digits points (12). The momentum came to a halt when Lithuania beat them 90-94, with Wade contributing just 6 points. In their last game, Angola was comfortably beaten (89-53) and Wade was leading with 4 steals.

Pau Gasol-led Spain was the quarter-final opponent, and the game was close in Team USA’s favor (102-84). Veteran Stephon Marbury scored 31 points for the team, while rookie Wade scored 4 points in 15 minutes. Argentina crushed their gold medal hopes in a semifinal defeat (89-81). At the halfway mark, the game was tight with the scoreline having a difference of 5 points. However, in the third quarter, Manu Ginobili and Co. outscored 27-19.

The Bronze medal match was against Lithuania, but this time the result was different. A 104-96 victory, with Wade scoring 9 points in 16 minutes. His 6 assists meant he was the highest provider not only for his side but for the match as well. Wade ended the campaign with 7.3 points, 2.1 steals, and 2.4 assists.

Dwyane Wade and his Final Olympic

Due to injuries, and the addition of Kobe Bryant, Wade’s role in the team changed. “I did come off the bench in 2008. My role was a little different, I think the thing is, outside of being benched, just as a player that’s going to play in the Olympics, you have to look at the team and say ‘What am I going to bring that the team does not already have.'”

He was the 6th man in all the games and featured in all 8 games from the bench. Yet, he would become the team’s top scorer averaging 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. In the gold medal game against Spain, Wade had a team-high 27 points on 75 percent shooting. Understanding his role and the failure from before, he candidly accepted what went wrong with the team.

“We were the big bad Americans who got paid a lot of money to do what we do. We were the best in the world. And we went over there in 2004 and we got smacked, just literally smacked. That was very humbling and very embarrassing for us.” That turned out to be his last Olympic games.

After winning the championship with the Heat in 2012, Wade had to miss the Summer Olympics due to surgery. After suffering a knee injury, the surgery would mean Dwyane Wade was out for six to eight weeks. Thus, the Flash would only represent in two Olympics and won Bronze in the first and the coveted gold in his last. Not to forget bowing out as the top scorer over LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Kobe Bryant.

“Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.”