Dwyane Wade Olympics broadcasting: NBA legend, Noah Eagle's commentary praised on social media
Former NBA Finals champion Dwyane Wade has made a return to basketball, but not as a player.
Wade, making his game-calling debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics, appeared alongside play-by-play commentator Noah Eagle on the NBC family of networks' coverage of Olympics basketball on Saturday. Fans were instantly enamored with Wade's commentary during a matchup between France and Brazil.
Wade, who will call Team USA games alongside Eagle during the Paris Games, delivered plenty of high-energy moments, like yelling "Yabusele" during a Gabriel Yabusele dunk. He even gave solid analysis on French phenom Victor Wembanyama, who was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2023-24.
REQUIRED READING: What to know about Dwyane Wade as NBC's Olympic basketball commentator at Paris Games
“(Wembanyama) is electrifying and that’s not even a big enough word for what he brings," Wade said. "But what I love most about him … it's the patience of this player ... to make sure that his teammates get involved and get into the game first.”
NBC Olympics president and executive producer Molly Solomon told USA TODAY in June that Wade's experience of having previously competed in international games — while also having a relationship with multiple players on the team, including LeBron James, with whom he won two NBA championships — was part of the reason he was selected for the role, despite having limited game-calling experience.
Eagle and Wade could also be a sign of things to come, as NBC, along with Amazon and ESPN, recently acquired the media rights to broadcast NBA games starting in 2025-26.
The former Miami Heat guard was a 13-time NBA All-Star and represented the United States at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, where he won a bronze and a gold medal, respectively.
Here's how social media reacted to Wade's game-calling duties on Saturday:
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS: Follow USA TODAY's full coverage here
Dwyane Wade Olympics broadcasting: Social media reacts
Here's how social media reacted to Wade working on NBC's broadcast team for France vs. Brazil basketball on Saturday:
As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, some of the coverage for the FIBA Olympics could be a test run for what we get when NBC takes over the NBA in 2025.
Noah Eagle and Dwayne Wade, a very possible commentating duo in the NBA for years to come. pic.twitter.com/g6RxLuicPL— Global Hoops Daily (@worldhoopsfan) July 27, 2024
Guerschon Yabusele dunks it off of the broken play!
“YABUUSELEEE” - Dwayne Wade
pic.twitter.com/rC5Hi93QjX— Global Hoops Daily (@worldhoopsfan) July 27, 2024
"Have you ever seen anything like that?"
"Yes, on Space Jam." pic.twitter.com/liBAAPolfM— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) July 27, 2024
would not hate Noah Eagle and Dwyane Wade calling NBA games for NBC when it’s time
— Rohan Nadkarni (@RohanNadkarni) July 27, 2024
Dwyane Wade in Paris Olympics 👋 pic.twitter.com/4Wbp8plLez
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) July 27, 2024
This is why NBC wanted the NBA so badly…Noah Eagle and Dwayne Wade will do just fine https://t.co/jhLrMxvYYS
— Clinton Corley (@clintonINC) July 27, 2024
Noah Eagle is a chip off the old block as a play by play guy and Dwayne Wade has a ton of potential to be really good at this.
— Wes Reynolds (@WesReynolds1) July 27, 2024
Dwayne Wade + Ian Eagle the commentating couple we didn't know we needed. Fun, informative, insightful, and entertaining.
— Coach Tony Miller (@tonywmiller) July 27, 2024
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dwyane Wade Olympics broadcasting: Social media reacts to NBA legend