"I see the one-on-one atmosphere growing" - D-Wade reacts to the Lance Stephenson/Michael Beasley showdown
"I see the one-on-one atmosphere growing" - D-Wade reacts to the Lance Stephenson/Michael Beasley showdown originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The recent one-on-one battle between former NBA stars Michael Beasley and Lance Stephenson was a massive success, with the former coming away with a 31-21 win over the latter. As entertaining as that game was, Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade remarked that it was a game that could open up lucrative opportunities for dominant one-on-one players to make a lane of their own.
Booming betting culture
Sports betting has been a significant thread in the fabric of basketball since time immemorial. Today, it's not uncommon to see betting odds displayed during live games and even advertisements promoting sports betting. With the rise of online sportsbooks and mobile apps, placing a bet on NBA games has become more convenient than ever before.
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With one-on-one basketball now gaining a platform, Wade surmised that it's only a matter of time before one-on-one tournaments and competitions are organized with betting opportunities. This could bring in a whole new level of excitement for fans, as well as potentially lucrative opportunities for players.
"I'm looking at where we are in the world, too. We're DraftKings; we're FanDuel; we're in a betting culture. And so you need something else. Ain't nothing better than betting on a one-on-one. I ain't got to worry about nobody else. I just got to worry about picking one person," the Miami Heat legend shared.
"And so when you talk about the betting culture that we're in, that's why I see the one-on-one kind of atmosphere growing. You know what I mean? When it comes, 'cause there's a lot of dudes out there that may not be in the league. There's a lot of dudes out there that want that smoke," he added.
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A chance for one-on-one hoopers to shine
One-on-one basketball is a cherished aspect of the basketball culture, as it's something that players have engaged in since they were little. Long before hoopers were able to grasp the nuances of five-on-five, they were learning the game by playing one-on-one with their friends and family.
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"This is really big. This is how we grew up," Dwyane opined. "And so I look at one-on-one as a big opportunity for the betting culture and the betting world to tap into that and want to get into that with them pots."
Additionally, having one-on-one games or tournaments gives more players the chance to make names for themselves and earn money that makes a difference.
"It's bigger than $100,000. So now guys go out there and play one-on-one, and it changes your life with the opportunity now for the bets that's going on. So when I looked at it, I was like, 'Oh, this is a bigger revenue opportunity for guys that maybe can't make it in the NBA,'" he stated.
"Because of whatever the reason is — it's a reason Michael Beasley ain't in the NBA, right? Whatever the reason is, whether it's right or it's wrong. But it's a place for Michael Beasley to now play. And the possibility of him and other guys like him to really gain like their own space, their own league in a sense," Wade added.
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Wade's opinion carries considerable weight. There are numerous talented players who aren't in the NBA. There are only a finite number of spots on NBA rosters. However, with the rise of leagues like the BIG3 and now one-on-one basketball, there may be a new avenue for players to showcase their skills and potentially earn a living playing basketball.
Related: "I'll bust his a*s" - Michael Beasley said he'd beat Carmelo Anthony one-on-one after dominating Lance Stephenson
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
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