Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade was on the Olympic roster for the U.S. team that last lost overseas.
He said that moment marked the beginning of the rest of the world catching up with the U.S. It was a wake-up call.
“I think since we lost and won the bronze medal in 2004, we've had the respect of the rest of the world,” Wade said. “The sport is out there all over the world, it's out in the open and everybody has a chance. Nothing can be hidden anymore. We can see everything.”
The U.S. held off France on Saturday to win its fifth gold medal since losing in Athens, proving that the team must compete at the highest level to sustain its success.
“I'm just sitting there looking at Serbia,” Wade said, “who won a bronze medal but didn't win a gold medal and will be there again in four years. I'm looking at the French team and Canada, this is the first time they've played together and will be there again in four years. I'm looking at Germany. There are 68 NBA players in this field alone and probably more in the next four years. Basketball is the greatest sport in the world.”
Wade said the days of America expecting to win without putting in maximum effort are long gone.
“We remain in command as far as gold medals go,” Wade said, “but it's not easy. This isn't 1992. Everybody needs to forget that. Today is a different day.”
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Miami Heat On SI and can be reached at [email protected].
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