Son’s Medical Emergency Forced Dwyane Wade Into Giving Up NBA Duties Only for Ex-Teammate to Step In

During Dwyane Wade‘s absence in a crucial game against the Cavaliers in 2019, Josh Richardson scored 24 points to lead the Heat to win 117-93. His former teammate and mentee has never disappointed when the team needed him the most. Just like 9 years back in 2015, when the Flash was absent due to his son’s medical emergency.

Appearing on The OG’s Podcast Show, Richardson recalled how he was able to get in the starting line-up in his third game in the NBA because D-Wade had to tend to his son. “I started my third game because DWade’s son swallowed a marble damn. I didn’t know I was even going to wear a jersey until the pregame meeting 30 minutes before so I’m like sitting there I just did like a crazy warm-up,” the Miami Heat star revealed.

Josh Richardson had joined the Heat the same year as a 40th overall pick. Having made his debut on November 5th, the guard played his third against the Utah Jazz just a week later. Speaking about the experience, Richardson recalls, “I’m like all right bet so I go in I have eight quick ones quick ones, hit a three from the corner and I hit another three and I drove the lane… It was a good start.” 

The 30-year-old finished with 8 points and 3 rebounds playing for 20 minutes in the game. He also landed 2 of his 3 field goals to help the Heat win 92-91. Just like this one, the player had a bunch of such stories about the Heat veterans. One of those is about his experience seeing the 3x NBA Champion for the first time.

Josh Richardson recalls awkward first encounter with Dwyane Wade

The first time Josh Richardson saw the father of five was in the gym and recalled how the champ just had his bright blue tights on. “Why is he walking to here like that? Where are his pants? He’s like posting people up. Just with his tights on and I’m like, ‘I hope this ain’t what it’s gonna be like every day,” Richardson recounted.

To an odd first encounter, the two have had an amazing mentor-mentee relationship. He was able to spend more than 2 years with Wade, during which, the 3X NBA champion exuded large impact on Richardson. “He just taught me the game gives back what you put into it. I think that’s been like kind of a theme for my career,” he told Sixers Wire previously. 

It seems Wade’s wife Gabrielle Union was also listening to the podcast. As Richardson praised Wade for his insane performance in Game 6 against Charlotte Hornets in 2016, Union also quickly took to her Instagram. “One of my favorite “F-U” moments of @dwyanewade career. I was losing my mind!!!,” Union wrote on her Instagram Story. After changing 5 teams, Richardson is back to playing for the Heat. 

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.