Wade turns his attention to new game
Just when you thought Dwyane Wade has done it all, the retired Miami Heat icon offers yet another spin move.
Fashion guru? Check. NBA television analyst? Check. Vintner? Check.
And now? Game-show host. Moving into a role where he will be the one passing out the cash (quite the contrast from the summer of 2016 and that ugly spat with Pat Riley), Wade will executive produce and host an American spinoff of the British game show, “The Cube,” for WarnerMedia.
The show will feature contestants performing various competitions within a confined cube. And if they need help, the Heat’s all-time leading scorer will be there to assist.
Wade, who retired at the end of the 2018-19 season, has maintained nearly as high a profile in retirement as during his championship run on Biscayne Boulevard.
According to a report by Deadline, an order for 10 episodes is in place for the 60-minute show. A network for the programming has yet to be selected, with TNT, which currently features Wade’s NBA studio analysis, among the options.
As for the format, “pairs of contestants are forced to compete in a series of challenges while inside a small, clear-plastic cube. It highlights how even straightforward tasks such as catching, throwing, estimating, memorizing and balancing are more difficult when confined and under pressure in a small area surrounded by a live studio audience. Working against the clock, each pair has nine lives to complete seven games, each worth an increasing amount of money, as they move closer to the jackpot.”
In a statement, Wade, 38, said, “I’m excited to join my WarnerMedia family in bringing this exciting and entertaining game show to the U.S. As a former athlete, I enjoy competition and I appreciate the skill set needed to compete in high-tension and fast-paced environments.
“As executive producer and host, I’m looking forward to teaming up with contestants to embark on a quest that is both physical and mental, as well as adding my own flavor to the show that will make this a fun family viewing event.”
Wade’s entry into the game-show market follows former Heat championship teammate LeBron James, who serves as executive producer of the NBC competition “The Wall,” which debuted in 2016.
Former athletes who have hosted game shows include Michael Strahan, Tim Tebow and Rob Gronkowski.