Dwyane Wade made a return to the Olympic stage after 16 years. But as a commentator. During the first game between France and Brazil, Wade’s new role had him trending on X while close ones proudly announced aloud on Instagram. Amidst it all, one moment stood out – when he gave a heartfelt shout-out to his former Miami Heat teammate and longtime friend, Udonis Haslem.

In the opening match, Dwyane Wade delved into the concept of a winning mentality. He referenced Haslem, saying, “You need those Udonis Haslem types,” when explaining the guys needed to win a game. This statement resonated deeply with the audience and was quickly picked up by reporter Will Manso, who shared the moment on X (formerly Twitter). Haslem, moved by his friend’s words, reposted it on his Instagram story, captioning it: ” My Brotha…” with a handshake emoji.

Meanwhile, the game between France and Brazil was a nail-biter. Brazil surged ahead with a 27-15 lead early in the second quarter. However, France’s debutant, Victor Wembanyama, turned the game around. He led France to a 39-36 lead by halftime, and from then on, France never looked back. Ultimately, they secured a 78-66 victory, with Wembanyama’s performance being a crucial factor in their comeback – maybe the ‘UD types,’ D-Wade was referring to.

The 13× NBA All-Star has previously explained Haslem’s playing feature that sets him apart. Reflecting on the 2006 NBA Finals, Wade once shared via SI, “Everybody wants to do the ‘sexy stuff’ that gets the highlights… But Udonis did the stuff that’s not sexy. The stuff that no one wants to do. The extra effort.” He emphasized, “He did all the stuff no one signs up for, and he did it in such a fashion that we could feel the importance of it,” and further went on and win three championships together.

Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem’s brotherhood

In an interview with SI, Dwyane Wade reflected on his bond with Udonis Haslem, describing him as a brother. When Wade joined the Miami Heat in 2003, both he and Haslem were young and spent much of their time together. They often watched football or visited bars, forming a strong friendship. “That’s how it started for us,” Wade recalled.

Furthermore, Wade shared a pivotal moment when Haslem nearly left the Heat in 2010 because of financial reasons. Upon learning that Haslem was about to accept a more lucrative offer, Wade intervened. He called Haslem, who explained he needed to prioritize an offer that was meaningful for his family. Wade then took it on, alongside LeBron James and Chris Bosh, incurring a pay cut because, “It wasn’t going to feel complete without Udonis being a part of this sh**.”

Wade also highlighted their willingness to take hits for each other. During an intense Indiana series, Haslem had been hit in the face and was bleeding. Later, when Tyler Hansbrough hit Wade, Haslem was ready to retaliate. Wade tried to calm him down, but Haslem’s determination was evident. “[asked] UD to leave it alone, that it was fine. And he just had this look on his face like, ‘No, it ain’t,'” Wade remembered. Eventually, Haslem was suspended for one game after striking Hansbrough in the face.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.