"I got the easier part of Shaq" - Dwyane Wade credits Shaquille O'Neal for his rise to NBA superstardom
At the peak of his dominance, Shaquille O'Neal was a larger-than-life figure, both literally and figuratively. Still, his three-peat run with the Los Angeles Lakers to a three-peat was somewhat overshadowed by the clash he had with his superstar teammate, Kobe Bryant.
But by the time he joined the Miami Heat in 2004, Shaq was a more seasoned and self-aware version of himself. As such, he was crucial to helping Dwyane Wade attain superstar status in the NBA.
Wade remains fond of his time with O'Neal
When Shaq arrived in South Beach, D-Wade was entering his sophomore year in the league. But almost instantly, his presence elevated the latter's game.
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Wade's scoring average jumped from 16.2 points to 24.1 points per game, helping him earn a spot on the All-NBA and All-Defensive second teams. For a player who somewhat flew under the radar, given that he was a part of the draft class that was highlighted by LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, D-Wade took a massive leap.
The real breakout came in the 2005-06 season when Dwyane took a giant leap by averaging 27.2 points in the regular season and then 28.4 points per game in the playoffs. He capped off his incredible year by leading the Heat to their first-ever NBA championship.
During his appearance on the "Pardon My Take" podcast, the legendary guard credited O'Neal for being a steady force early in his career, admitting that his presence instilled confidence that helped him reach NBA superstardom.
"I got the easier part of Shaq. He was already one of the biggest stars in the world, he had three championships. He was so accomplished and secure by the time he got to Miami and all he wanted to do was win another ring," Wade said. "He knew I was one of the ones who can help him get that. So, he was amazing with me, man. He really pumped a lot of juice in me, telling me things that… like he told me, 'I was going to be one of the greatest two guards to ever play the game.'"
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Related: "I just got tired of hearing it and just thought it was best for me to move on" - Patrick Ewing admits he regrets leaving the Knicks out of spite
Shaq embraced his role as a No. 2 star
The conversation around Shaq often focuses on his feud with Kobe and his reluctance to let go of the alpha role in L.A. But when he arrived in Miami, the 15-time All-Star understood his prime years were behind him.
Shaq was still productive, averaging 22.9 points and 10.4 rebounds in his first season with the Heat. However, he knew winning another title would only be possible with Wade guiding the ship. That's exactly what he did, handing the reins over and helping shape the iconic guard into a Finals MVP en route to the 2006 NBA championship.
Shaq will always be remembered for his charisma, dominance, and flair, but what's often overlooked is his role in elevating the next generation of stars. Wade's rise as one of the league's most dominant two-way guards wasn't just about talent but rather about mentorship, and O'Neal deserves a lot of credit for that.
Related: Dwyane Wade admits he initially didn't think Erik Spoelstra would be a great NBA coach: "When he first got the job, I was like, 'What are we doing?'"
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