Much like Dwyane Wade in 2008, Bam Adebayo excelling in multiple roles for Team USA

Bam Adebayo in 2024 is reminiscent of Dwyane Wade in 2008.

That’s one thing we learned while watching Team USA defeat Puerto Rico 104-83 in Olympic pool play on Saturday in France.

Adebayo, a Miami Heat star who serves as a backup on a loaded USA roster that includes Anthony Edwards, LeBron James and Stephen Curry, finished the game with three points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. He turned the ball over twice, making 1-of-3 shots from the floor and 1-of-2 from the foul line.

Edwards had a game-high 26 points, overshadowing Hall-of-Famers-to-be James (10 points) and Curry (six points). Team USA will be the No. 1 seed when the knockout round begins next week.

Wade, a former Heat star, was the analyst on NBC’s broadcast on Saturday. When Adebayo entered the game with 3:18 left in the first quarter, Wade relayed a recent conversation he shared with Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

“I got an early text from ‘Spo; and, for me, ‘early’ was about 11 a.m.,” Wade said with a laugh. “Spo said Bam’s role on this team is similar to mine in (2008, when USA won gold).

“You are coming in off the bench, and your role can change every night. That’s how valuable Bam has been, playing his role very well.”

Indeed, Adebayo provided a spark in the first quarter … shortly after Puerto Rico completed an 11-0 run to grab a 25-17 lead with 2:11 left.

Adebayo, on the receiving end of a pick-and-roll play, took one dribble, pump-faked and dunked.

Adebayo nearly had another dunk later in the first quarter, but Kevin Durant was called for a charge a split-second before his lob pass landed in Adebayo’s hands at the rim.

In the second quarter, Adebayo changed his role, initiating offense this time. He got into the lane and lobbed a pass for an Anthony Davis dunk.

By halftime, USA led comfortably, 64-45. However, the leading scorer at halftime was Puerto Rico’s Jose Alvarado with 13 points. USA’s Edwards had 12 points.

USA led 87-59 after three quarters, and the game was virtually over at that point.

Davon Reed, who played for the Miami Hurricanes from 2013 to 2017, started for Puerto Rico. He made his presence known in the first quarter with a sprint to the cup resulting in a put-back dunk. Reed, who is of Puerto Rican descent, finished with four points and seven rebounds.

In a side note that is basketball adjacent, the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman had a big Olympic moment on Saturday. Trinity Rodman blasted a booming goal in extra time to give USA a 1-0 quarterfinal win over Japan in women’s soccer.