“Guy Nobody Wanted to F**k With”: Despite Winning Two Championships With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade Gives His Flowers to 6ft 7 NBA Veteran

What does it take to be called great in NBA? All-Star numbers, championships, defensive player of the year, MVPs, a lot of stuff comes to mind. The honor of being called a great belongs to a few percent of the players. However, the parameter of greatness has to be viewed much more than the statistics. There are some players who leave a profound impact on the city that they play in.

When Dwyane Wade acknowledges that impact, it implies an enormous deal. So, who, according to Dwyane, deserves a lot of credit for the Heat’s championships?

Dwyane Wade got someone who did the dirty work

Dwyane Wade’s arrival in Miami changed their trajectory completely. Having been competitive in the late 90s, the guidance of Wade propelled them to places that were even more special, including the title in 2006. To get it done, he needed MVP-level players like LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal, but it is the small things that play a big role.

Udonis Haslem was the epitome of the Heat’s 2006 championship, often scrapping for loose balls and making his point clear..

He wasn’t afraid of picking up technicals, and the braided Forward would get tempers flaring. He earned a reputation for instigating fights and he always stood by his teammates.

Talking to Sports Illustrated, Wade states, “Being in a playoff series with Udonis? I would never worry about one thing, because I knew I had a dog with me. And if anything broke down, I knew I had that guy nobody wanted to f— with.”

He also highlighted that “He did all the stuff no one signs up for, and he did it in such a fashion that we could feel the importance of it.”

Haslem gets the highest praise from Flash

Haslem’s tenure with the Heat lasted for 20 years and never switched teams. Wade convinced him to stay in 2010 when Bron and Bosh arrived on the scene.

Wade wasn’t ready to let go of the University of Florida alum as he was about to sign elsewhere because of salary cap issues after the team landed two big contracts. Flash claimed he told, “Chris and Bron I would take the biggest hit”.

Haslem’s former teammate had something massive to say about the scrapping Forward. He believes that the three-time champion has had the greatest career in Miami Heat history. He puts his brother’s time in Miami over greats like O’Neal because of the six-foot seven-inches Forward’s impact on Heat culture.

Read more: Months After Boosting $500,000,000 in NBA Franchise, Former Bulls Star Dwyane Wade Set to Further Expand His Business Portfolio by Returning to Chicago

After his retirement, Haslem may get a position with the Franchise. After all, he gave them his all for 20 years and has glowing endorsements.

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