As March Madness kicks off, fans across the country are buzzing with anticipation – and so is NBA great Dwyane Wade.

The former Miami Heat star recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he shared just how much the NCAA Tournament still means to him, decades after his own legendary run with the Marquette Golden Eagles.

In a moment that left both Fallon and the audience laughing, Wade drew a surprising yet heartfelt parallel between the electrifying atmosphere of March Madness and his family’s excitement over a Beyonc concert.

“To me, March Madness is like the week that Beyonc is coming to L.A. And my wife and my daughters are getting ready for Beyonc. Outfits out, they’re talking to all their friends, they doing the dances. That’s how March Madness is for me,” Wade admitted with a grin.

A Personal Connection to March Madness

For Wade, the tournament is more than just a sporting event – it’s a cherished part of his personal story.

Reflecting on his time with Marquette, Wade described how March Madness captures the pure essence of the game.

“I go get my old jersey. I put it on. I get back in mode. March Madness to me is the best time to watch basketball,” Wade said. “It’s just the way that those kids put on. It’s before the fame, before the money, before all that.

“It’s just about what you love, and you get an opportunity on the biggest stage in college basketball to go out there and give it everything.”

Back in 2003, Wade led Marquette to an unforgettable Final Four run, scoring 29 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to topple the top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats – a performance that is still talked about among college basketball fans.

Though his team eventually fell to Kansas, Wade‘s impact remains legendary, making his love for the tournament deeply personal.

Wade’s family also shares that level of excitement – especially when it comes to Beyonc. His wife, actress Gabrielle Union, and their daughter Zaya are massive fans of Queen Bey. The family even attended Beyonc’s Renaissance World Tour in Los Angeles, an event Union described as more than a concert.

“She (Zaya) is the biggest Beyonc fan and she was in Club Renaissance and had the time of her life. It was such an amazing show. Bey is such an amazing woman and performer and it was a massive celebration that felt like something far beyond a concert,” Union told PEOPLE.

Union, who has long admired Beyonc, also shared that their youngest daughter, Kaavia, had her first real concert experience that night – though it went past her bedtime.

“It was Kaavia‘s first concert outside of seeing characters perform at Disneyland. It was way past her bedtime since she goes to bed no later than 7 and Bey doesn’t go on until 8:30/9. She was absolutely delirious,” Union said.

With memories like those, it’s no wonder Wade draws a connection between the excitement of March Madness and the all-out preparation for a Beyonc show. For Wade, March Madness is about passion, heart, and unforgettable performances – just like the Queen herself.