“Had to Put Pops on the Phone”: Shaquille O’Neal’s First Born Swells With Pride for ‘UNC’ Dwyane Wade at Miami Art Basel

Shaquille O’Neal’s eldest daughter just had an absolute blast at Dwyane Wade’s party. Thanks to such social gatherings, we get to see how legendary teammates become family friends. O’Neal’s eldest daughter’s presence at the Flash‘s party is one such memorable instance. The friendship between Shaq and Wade seems to be going as strong as it did during their 2006 championship run.

That connection was reflected as Big Aristotle‘s eldest daughter praised D-Wade’s hard work. The 27-year-old shared several snaps and snippets from the party on her Instagram. So, what was the 3x NBA champion celebrating?

Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter lauded Dwyane Wade for his achievements

Much like DJ Diesel, Dwyane Wade also wears many hats. His party recently was to commemorate his collaboration with filmmaker and photographer, Bobby Metelus. The two formed a relationship when Wade took up photography post-retirement. His journey was certainly not overlooked by his former teammate’s daughter.

Taahirah O’Neal posted an adorable photo on her Instagram story, embracing her ‘unc’ Wade, along with a message that read, “lol I had to put pops (Shaquille O’Neal) on the phone.” Taahirah is the eldest daughter of O’Neal and his former girlfriend, Arnetta Yardbourgh. Though she was raised in Shaq’s home state of Texas, Taahirah was born in Orlando, Florida.

Furthermore, she shared more snaps on her IG feed and wrote, “Thanks for the invite Unc @dwaynewade So proud of you and all of your accomplishments post-retirement. You make this look oh so easy. Truly inspiring.”

Some pictures showed her having a great time at the party, while others showed off the celebration of the 3x NBA champion. She also thanked Wade for the invitation.

The Miami Art Basel party is one of the most upscale gatherings of numerous art enthusiasts, fashion lovers, and celebrities. Taahirah, who currently works as a communication analyst for PepsiCo., didn’t miss out on the great opportunity presented by her ‘unc’.

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This unique encounter also urges one to reflect on the great friendship the two legends shared both on and off the court.

Shaquille O’Neal’s friendship with Dwyane Wade 

Following a long, drawn-out feud with the Black Mamba, Shaq was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Miami Heat in 2004. This is where he met another rising star of the league, D-Wade, who O’Neal quickly dubbed the Flash. 

From that point onward, two went on to dominate, ultimately clinching Miami’s first NBA championship in 2006. It was also Shaq’s only ring where he was not the Finals MVP.

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While the two have continued a similar dominance and success after their retirement, they have also maintained their friendship. Their partnership will forever stand as an iconic chapter in their respective careers, symbolizing the bond that shaped their shared journey.