“When I look back on it, I’ve done everything I could,” Dwyane Wade has no complaints about his career. In 2019, Wade retired after playing 16 years in the NBA. Since then, he has continued to receive honors for his iconic career, with the latest being the Hall of Fame induction. But his journey to becoming a Hall of Famer began very early into his basketball career when a former NBA MVP inspired him with his simple, yet memorable act with fans.

The Miami Heat shared a clip that gave fans a peek into Wade’s mindset during his playing days. Standing alongside NBA legend Bob McAdoo, Wade reminisced about how the 2x champ never missed a chance to flaunt his Hall of Fame status. “Bob McAdoo used to sign things at the bus for people… He always put HOF. And he always let us know that he had the HOF and we didn’t,” Wade revealed. That casual confidence left an impression on a young Wade, sparking a fierce determination to earn those same three letters.

“And I was like, I’m gonna get that H-O-F,” Wade shared. True to his word, he made it happen, earning a Hall of Fame spot that now defines his legacy. “Anybody see my signature today? It says H-O-F. So, shout out to McAdoo. First person I’ve seen writing HOF,” Wade said in the video. We can also see another Heat legend, Alonzo Mourning, dapping up his fellow Hall of Famers in the clip.

McAdoo was one of the best players of his generation, earning numerous accolades. His contributions to the game helped him get inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, just 3 years before Wade started his journey in the league.

Interestingly, McAdoo never suited up for the Heat but played a pivotal role in the franchise’s history. Joining the Heat as an assistant coach in 1995, he spent 25 years with the organization, working under legendary coaches like Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra. He was part of the Heat’s championship wins in 2006, 2012, and 2013, all during Wade’s dominant years. Reflecting on those golden moments, McAdoo described his time in Miami as a “fantastic run.” But did he help Wade surpass his legacy?

Dwyane Wade for the history books

Just a year after retiring in 2020, Dwyane Wade saw his legendary jersey, #3, raised to the rafters by the Miami Heat. Joining the ranks of Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Chris Bosh, and Michael Jordan, Wade solidified his place in franchise history. Reflecting on the moment, he said, “I’m most proud that I’ve inspired different generations to want to be better, to want to be greater.”

But the honors didn’t stop there. In 2022, Wade made the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, cementing his place among the all-time greats. With a resume boasting three championships, 13 All-Star appearances, and a Finals MVP title, his Hall of Fame induction in 2023 felt inevitable.

In an interview with Shannon Sharpe, Wade revealed why he is one of the greatest. “I’ve played so many roles my entire basketball career,” he explained. “And I think that’s why I look at myself as one of the greatest players, because I didn’t do it one way. I showed you how to be great in so many different ways and so many different times; my game changed and evolved so much.”

And Miami heat president Pat Reilly showed the same sentiment just a few months ago when he unveiled Dwyane Wade’s “This is my house” statue at Kaseya Center. “As the greatest player ever in Miami Heat history, yes, it’s his day, it’s his family’s day,” Riley said. As Wade stood in awe, he could only say, “This is crazy.” While McAdoo inspired a young Wade to earn his accolades, he also helped the Miami icon surpass his legacy. That’s the best part about sports.