Dwyane Wade demanded more from Shaquille O'Neal after a poor 2007-08 start: "We need him to help lead this team in other ways"
The Miami Heat had a rough start to the 2007-08 campaign. Their main player, Dwyane Wade, clearly frustrated, knew something had to change.
Wade and fellow star Shaquille O'Neal were expected to lead the team, but the former clearly felt he wasn't getting enough support. Just before December 2007, D-Wade publicly called on "Diesel" to finally step up and take charge, however that might look.
The unraveling of "Diesel"
At the time, the team from South Beach, coached by Pat Riley, held a 1–7 record. While that was already frustrating, it was even harder because they carried a burden they actually wanted to lose.
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Just months earlier, the Heat were swept by the Chicago Bulls in the first round, despite being the clear favorite. It was the first time in 50 years that a reigning NBA champion had lost an opening series without winning a single game.
A major reason for that collapse was O'Neal's declining impact. Injuries had taken a toll on his durability, and the previous season had been his least productive statistically. Once a dominant force in the paint and a three-time Finals MVP, "Diesel" now looked like a shadow of his former self.
Early in the new season, the concerns only grew. The 7'1" center was averaging career lows: 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Offensively, Shaq's role kept shrinking — just 10 shot attempts a night compared to his long-time average of 17. And on defense, his presence no longer struck fear. The former Los Angeles Lakers star looked slower, less reactive and often couldn't stay on the court, fouling out of five straight games at one point.
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Related: "I never saw one free agent come to the Bulls and say that they wanna play with Michael" - Scottie Pippen reinforces the notion that no other big-name players had interest in playing with MJ
Wade challenged Shaq
While Shaq was already 35 and had four championship titles to his name, Dwyane was just 25 with only one ring. One seemed a bit reluctant to make another run, while the other — a Finals MVP in 2006 — was eager to go for it again.
As the frustrating season wore on, their differing mindsets became increasingly clear. Recognizing this, "Flash" felt the need to subtly call out his larger-than-life teammate.
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"Even though he (O'Neal) is not getting the ball as much as he wants, we need him to help lead this team in other ways, whether it's rebounding the ball or passing the ball the way he knows how to pass," said Wade, per ESPN.
Still, the skilled 6'4" shooting guard didn't just criticize — he encouraged. D-Wade made it clear this was their team. Leadership, he stressed, wasn't about one guy taking over — it was about shared effort between him and "Diesel" and that they'd "find a way to do it."
By then, after playing together since 2004, Wade said he had become more vocal than ever about handling O'Neal. Yet he also understood a simple truth: motivation couldn't be forced. It had to come from within.
"The main thing is Shaq has got to be self-motivated. He has got to be willing and ready to do it," emphasized the future Hall of Famer.
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Unfortunately, those words didn't have the impact intended. It's tough to say whether "The Big Aristotle" just didn't have the mental drive anymore, or if his body simply couldn't keep up after so many years in the league — maybe it was a bit of both. Off-court issues — O'Neal was going through a tough divorce — likely played a role, too.
However, what matters most is performance, and that just wasn't there. Shaquille continued to struggle, which ended his run of 14 straight All-Star appearances, and only a few months after Wade's comments, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns.
Related: Ivica Zubac reflects on breakout year, Jokic battles, and more in Basketball Network exclusive
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