If there’s one thing Dwyane Wade is known for, it’s being prepared for any situation and looking his best.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer will once again be on the front lines in a new endeavor as a game analyst for NBC Sports during Team USA’s men’s basketball games at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Wade will make his NBC Olympic debut in Paris, joining Noah Eagle, who will call games for the U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams. LaChina Robinson, in her third Olympics for NBC Sports, will serve as game commentator for the U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team, while Kerris Burke and Zola Stevenson will serve as sideline reporters.
“I am thrilled to join NBC Sports as a commentator for Team USA Men’s Basketball,” Wade said in a statement. “The Olympic Games are the world’s premier sporting event, featuring the best athletes competing on the biggest stage in the world. Looking back on my time competing as an Olympian, I feel great pride and have the utmost respect for these athletes and their dedication to their accomplishments. It will be an honor to share this special experience with our viewers as we witness their journey firsthand and celebrate with them in their quest for a gold medal.”
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Wade, a three-time NBA champion and 13-time NBA All-Star, said his latest job was simply about taking advantage of the opportunity to do something different on television.
“For me, it’s a challenge,” Wade told USA Today Sports while getting a manicure at a nail salon in Los Angeles. “I’m always facing these challenges. I want to make sure that whatever door I want to walk through, the door will open if I work for it.”
Wade served as an NBA studio analyst for TNT from 2019-2022 and won a gold medal as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympics “Redeem Team.”
The American team has won a gold medal at every Olympic Games since its victory in China, and the U.S. women’s basketball team has won gold in each of the past seven Olympic tournaments.
While Wade has never served in this role as a game analyst, he says his knowledge of the game makes him well-equipped for the job. One thing he won’t do is criticize the U.S. team when it struggles at the Olympics.
“Well, I don’t,” Wade says. “I think we need to talk about what we saw. I’m not really interested in blaming players, but I really like giving the spectators a chance to understand what’s going on in the game.”
Wade understands there’s a learning curve with any new job, especially one this high-profile. He says he’s not worried. He plans to maintain the same focus he had during his 16 seasons as an NBA player, with one caveat.
“Well, it’s definitely hard to pronounce my name correctly outside of Team USA, so it’s something I have to work on,” he said with a laugh, “but I’ve always said I want to excel in all areas of basketball, so this is just one of those opportunities.”
Wade said he plans to enjoy the upcoming NBA Finals before jetting off to France and then begin his Olympic duties.
Wade is also co-owner of the Utah Jazz and the WNBA’s Chicago Sky (it remains a mystery how he finds time to do anything, including get manicures) among other basketball interests, and has also purchased shares in Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake and the NWSL’s Utah Royals.
But those jobs will have to take a back seat when the Olympic Games begin on July 27.
“I’m going to give it my all during these three weeks in France,” Wade said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dwyane Wade becomes Team USA men’s basketball analyst for NBC Sports
