Shaq Credited for Wade’s Greatness & Confidence: His Advice Was Motivating

According to multiple sources, Miami Heat is preparing and gearing up for their next season with vigor, fighting to bring back their A-game. However, a few difficulties must be rectified before the new season begins. This includes addressing their forward power rotation with the loss of P.J. Tucker to Philly. 

Any team within the league with any disagreements and unsolved loose ends needs to find solutions soon, as everyone can anticipate a whirlwind of activities and challenges in the coming weeks where they will be strengthening their ability, teamwork, and strategies for the game.

 

The Conversation and The Heat’s Past

Given everything going on and a strong focus on their future, an opportunity came about to take a step back and talk about Miami Heat’s colorful past. This conversation inspired a walk down memory lane, looking at their famous history. 

Only the 1969 Boston Celtics and the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers had ever bounced back from losing the opening two games of the finals until Miami in 2006. Along with the Charlotte Hornets, The Heat joined the league as an expansion team in 1988, winning only 15 games in its first season. But they did go on to win two more NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. 

 

O’Neal and Wade

Together, Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade won a championship at two distinct stages in their careers. O’Neal chose to work with Wade after winning three championships with the Lakers, and with his help, Wade was propelled by O’Neal from being a promising young talent to becoming a superstar.

Dwyane Wade, born in Chicago, Illinois, is arguably the most incredible Miami Heat player in history and one of the greatest NBA players of all time. He recently discussed his overall confidence on and off the court while playing for the Miami Heat. Wade spent the entirety of his 16-year professional career with the team.

Few people would have predicted that Dwyane Wade, who wasn’t a highly-coveted talent coming out of high school, would become one of the finest shooting guards in history. Wade would later establish himself at Marquette, where the Heat chose him with the fifth overall choice in the illustrious 2003 NBA Draft. 

Dwyane Wade found himself as a future superstar and aspiring point guard during his rookie season when he was unanimously selected for the NBA All-Rookie Team.

 

Shaq the Hero

While being a positive force in the locker room, Shaq boosted Wade’s confidence. Kickstarting his professional career as the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft, he is known for being one of the greatest basketball players and best centers in the league of all time. And he led The Heat to new heights.

It’s no wonder why Dwyane Wade, the all-time leader in points, games, assists, steals, shots made, and shots taken in any of Miami Heat’s player history, attributes much of his confidence to NBA star Shaq. 

Watch the interview on Point Forward Here.

Wade says Shaq, who is as reliable as they come, was all the juice he needed. Shaq boosted his level of confidence to become one of the greats. It was his contribution that had the most significant impact on Wade’s realization of his potential. He continues on to discuss how O’Neal’s entrance affected him greatly when he spoke on the “Point Forward” program.

Although the video footage is above, and a significant portion of this comment is in the description below, we felt the need to reiterate it because it was such an excellent spill. Pay attention to every word that Flash is saying.

“I ran into people that challenged me until probably like, when Shaq came, it really inserted that level of confidence in me that I could be one of the greats. You know what I mean, I needed somebody that was a great to be able to show me what it’s like to be great.

And I give him so much credit for what I did on the court at a young age in my second year in the league but also what I started doing off the court. A lot of it came from being around a guy that was doing it.

And so I just had to, like, follow suit but also just interpret it, you know, my own way and put my own spin to it. But when Shaq says, “Hey, you one of the best two-guards in this game… you are going to be one of the greats”, I mean, I don’t need no more juice than that.”

Wade already possessed the abilities, strengths, and strategies required to be among the top-three shooting guards to play professionally. He had the athleticism, size, and attitude to make him an effective point guard. However, it was the straightforward spark offered by Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most inspiring, intimidating forces and greatest players the game has ever seen, to guarantee that he made it. It was the push he needed to pursue his destiny.

While it gives a little more insight into how Dwyane Wade is as a person and what likely led him to become one of the most incredible Miami Heat players he is now, it altogether emphasizes something else; admiration and respect. 

As they say, when The Diesel speaks, people pay attention to what he has to say. And Dwyane Wade becoming the player that he is, is just proof of that claim.