Dwyane Wade finished his NBA career as a three-time NBA champion, a top-75 player, a Hall of Famer, and one of the greatest shooting guards in league history. In fact, many would say he was the best behind only Kobe Bryant. Wade's accomplishments, though, didn't just come on the NBA floor; they also came internationally.
Now, the Miami Heat legend sits courtside calling games for NBA on Prime, and while in the midst of his first full season in broadcasting, he's done fairly well for himself, as has NBA on Prime in general. Wade's playing days are far behind him, so it's nice to see him giving back to the sport he dominated for almost two decades.
Even though he's retired and has a successful resume, Wade has one regret on his mind, as many retired NBA players have after their careers are over. However, Wade's regret has nothing to do with the NBA or his career in that world, but instead with international basketball and a certain medal he gave up out of frustration.
Dwyane Wade wants his Olympic bronze medal back, calling his decision to give it away 'young and dumb'
Team USA's "Redeem Team" in 2008 was a significant bounce-back, or make-up, however you want to view it, from the shock and disappointment that occurred four years prior in 2004. Team USA, which included LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Wade's first appearances for USA basketball, did not make it to the gold medal game and settled for bronze.
That bronze medal was the first for Team USA basketball since 1988, and in 2004, they were unprepared to face the challenge of vying for silver or gold. In the aftermath of the disappointment and frustration, Wade gave up his bronze medal, a decision he now regrets, calling it a poor one out of immaturity or, as he stated on his podcast, Time Out with Dwyane Wade, "young and dumb."
"I was so young and dumb that I didn't appreciate the bronze medal," Wade said. "We were conditioned to think that it's either gold or you are nothing. That's a young mentality. It's not knowing anything. It's not being cultured. It's not even being sociable. I just remembered this recently. I will be calling for my bronze medal now, now that I care about those things."
As for who Wade handed his medal to, the former Heat superstar recalled giving it to an older gentleman at the time, whom he did not name, but stated he knows who he is. Now, Wade hopes to get that medal back. In his defense, coming in third, especially with Team USA sports, should never feel like a pure accomplishment — it is disappointment, and that's natural.
Wade knew, in real time, they had not met expectations, or even that they had failed as a team, and the bronze medal was proof. In the moment, emotions got the best of him. Luckily, Wade would feel the exact opposite four years later when Team USA defeated Team Spain in the gold medal game.
It's good to see Wade looking back in this way, realizing his perspective was off, and trying to correct that. Will he ever get that bronze medal back? Time will tell. But his story is a good lesson in not letting the moment get the best of you and appreciating it, win or lose.