Carmelo Anthony’s reaction on Netflix’s ‘The Redeem Team’ to a bald Dwyane Wade showing up to the Olympics team practice in July 2008 was priceless, and in many ways, it said all that had to be said.
And while the version of bald Wade was regarded as the best version of the former Miami Heat champion, he had a reason as to why he showed up with a shaved head and jersey no. 9 for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
“I’ve gone bald for the simple fact that I’m focused solely on basketball,” Wade wrote, according to NBC News.
“I’m not concerning myself with waking up in the morning, brushing my hair trying to look pretty. I’m really focused on playing and bringing home the gold. Also, in China I’m not letting anybody cut my hair. If you’re not my barber, it’s not happening.”
It should be noted that the 2007-08 season was tough for Wade and Miami. He missed 31 games again due to injury and his points per game fell to 24.6.
Additionally, the Heat missed the playoffs and ended with the worst record in the league as they went 15-67. This had pundits and the US Olympics brass who doubted his skill and ability to bounce back.
“Coach K definitely wanted me to be a part of the team, but Jerry Colangelo had some doubts,” Wade explained on ‘The Redeem Team’.
“I did understand that, but I was pissed because it was like a part of my never-ending story of always feeling like they don’t appreciate you.”
The fact that he didn’t trust anyone to cut his hair in China reads a bit hilarious, but that he was pissed and he was locked in worked well for Team USA as he rose to the fore, averaging 16 points and 4 rebounds — numbers that bettered LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in the Olympics.
And in the most important game of the Olympics, Wade turned it on against Spain for the gold medal. He scored 27 points and had 4 steals, leading Team USA to an Olympic gold medal.
Bald Wade was a phenomenon. Period.
Dwyane Wade Believed He Could Have Been In The GOAT Conversation If He Didn’t Go Through His Spate Of Injuries
There is no doubt that Wade is one of the legends of the game, and many consider him to be the greatest player in Miami’s history. He was part of the team’s three titles, and also won Finals MVP in 2006.
Speaking to Shannon Sharpe on his podcast, Wade suggested that he would have been in the GOAT conversation if he didn’t deal with injuries.
“You doing the GOAT conversation with me… You take the injuries away, I’m still playing basketball right now if I want to… In my mind, I’m one of them dudes… You couldn’t tell me in 06, 07, 08 I wasn’t going where I wanted to.”
He may not be in the GOAT debate, but in what was a storied career minus the injuries, there is no doubt that Wade would be in that conversation.
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