Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade kept reminding himself to stop saying “we” while working as a commentator for NBC during Team USA’s 110-84 win Sunday over Serbia to open Group C play in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hard to blame him for his enthusiasm and natural bias. After all, he did win Olympic gold in 2008 with “The Redeem Team,” which restored America’s reign as the world’s best in men’s basketball.
Working with Noah Eagle, Wade was pumped, expressed his excitement, but also provided insight on several plays and players. His breakdown of Devin Booker’s value to the team was on point.
Booker posted 12 points, going 4-of-5 on 3s, and five assists in Sunday’s win. After Booker made a deep one in the first quarter, Wade immediately dropped a line from the 1990s classic film, “White Men Can’t Jump” in the broadcast.
“It’s pretty. It’s so pretty,” Wade said in referencing what Wesley Snipes’ character, Sidney Dean, said to Woody Harrelson’s character, Billy Hoyle when showing the form on his jumper after making it during a bet on the Venice Beach outdoor courts early in the film.
Wade also gave his thoughts on the debate of whether Anthony Edwards or Booker should be starting as shooting guard for Team USA, saying Booker gets the nod because he can space the floor with his shooting.
Having Stephen Curry, the greatest shooter ever, and Booker on the court to start the game keeps the defense honest, thus giving room for LeBron James to play downhill without the usual crowd that awaits him when he drives to the basket.
Edwards can catch-and-shoot as well, but he likes to go off the dribble. That’s a huge part of Booker’s game, too, but Booker plays off the ball better, a s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 that helps the spacing for Team USA’s offense.
Booker is a career 35.7% shooter from 3, knocking down 36.4% of them last season. Edwards is right there at 35.3% for his career, as he shot 35.7% from distance last season.
The difference is the 27-year-old Booker has proven himself to be a great shooter for a longer stretch. He’s entering his 10th NBA season, while Edwards is going into his fifth.
Booker has perfect form on his jump shot. The four-time All-Star won the 3-point contest at NBA All-Star weekend in 2018 and was runner-up to Buddy Hield in 2020 by just a point.
Booker can be streaky, but he’s shown throughout his career the ability to come off a shooting slump with an on-radar performance. He shot 4-of-12 from 3 in the five exhibition games before making the same amount of 3s Sunday on five attempts.
Edwards is the rising superstar who led the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals. Minnesota’s run began with a sweep of Booker and the Phoenix Suns in the first round.
Edwards is exciting, a tremendous athlete, and already one of the game’s best players — at just the age of 22. However, Team USA coach Steve Kerr started Booker in three of the five exhibition games and in Sunday’s Olympic opener. Edwards started in one exhibition game.
Booker has played in Olympic competitions, winning gold in 2021 in Tokyo, while this is Edwards’ first run in the Olympics after being the star player for Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Edwards is setting the stage to be the man in 2028 in Los Angeles, especially when considering this will likely be the final Olympics for Kevin Durant, James and Curry, who is playing in his first one at age 36.
Edwards will be that No. 1 option down the road for Team USA, but Booker spacing the floor will make his life much easier in 2028.
