The 2006 championship run will always be a special memory for Miami Heat fans. Not only did they have the powerhouse that was Shaquille O’Neal, but they also had the homegrown star, Dwyane Wade. Together, they brought glory to the city. But that championship run wasn’t without its wild stories. From Shaq’s infamous unfulfilled promise to gift Bentleys to Wade and Udonis Haslem, to new claims that challenge the narrative Shaq’s been pushing for years, things just got interesting—thanks to Gilbert Arenas.

On the Gil’s Arena podcast, Arenas dropped a bombshell. According to him, one of Shaq’s most famous stories—that he handed over leadership of the Miami Heat to Wade—was nothing more than a telltale. “Oh no, this is public. Shaq goes around and says he told Wade that this is your team. Which was a cap,” Arenas said bluntly.

Continuing his take, Arenas reminded everyone why Shaq left the LA Lakers in the first place: because Kobe Bryant was the undisputed No. 1 and the Big Diesel would want the claim back elsewhere. But things would not go his ‘unsaid’ way, as Arenas relays.

When Shaq joined the Heat, Wade was an emerging star, fresh out of his rookie season. They bumped heads that first year, but the Heat’s West Coast trip the next season, where they faced Kobe, showed the real pecking order. According to Arenas, Wade was “Batman,” while Shaq didn’t quite deliver when it mattered most. “When Shaq came back, Gary Payton had to come and say, ‘Hold on big fella, young fella got this. We’re riding with the young man,’” Arenas explained in the podcast.

However, Shaq’s side of the story paints a different picture.

In a 2006 interview with Dan Patrick, after winning his fourth championship, Shaq admitted, “When I came here I decided to let him [Wade] go, and I was going to be the second option. He’s a great player… the best in the world, D-Wade.”

Even Dwyane Wade himself backed this up earlier this year. He reshared that 2006 interview video, with a caption: “And then I became Batman!” Wade’s rise was undeniable—coming off an All-Star appearance and his first Olympic run, Wade went on to lead the team to a championship and claim the Finals MVP. But he did not get one thing he was promised.

Shaq’s fake promise to Wade

Back in December 2023, Shaquille O’Neal sat down for a fresh episode of The Big Podcast, this time with his former Miami Heat teammate, Udonis Haslem. The two got nostalgic, diving into stories from their time on the 2006 championship-winning Heat squad. Among the hilarious tales, one stood out: Shaq’s infamous “fake” promise to the team.

At the time, Haslem was 26, while Shaq, already a legend, was 34 and clearly one of the team’s leaders. As Haslem recounted on the podcast, Shaq was all about motivating his teammates. “Remember what you told me and Dwyane [Wade] if we won [the championship]?” Haslem asked, catching Shaq off guard. “I said I’d get you a… what?” Shaq stammered, clearly knowing what was coming next.

Haslem didn’t hold back. “You said you was gonna buy us Bentleys!” He went on to explain that Shaq promised him and Wade the luxury cars if they won the 2006 title. “We was motivated as hell, but the man ain’t bought us no Bentleys!” Haslem added, laughing.

When asked if they ever wished Shaquille O’Neal had delivered, Haslem didn’t hesitate. “Hell yeah!” he exclaimed. And as for Shaq’s excuse? He simply joked that he must’ve had the wrong addresses back then. Classic Shaq.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.