“Best in the world.” That was Shaquille O’Neal’s praise for Dwyane Wade after they won the 2006 NBA title together. With “The Flash” and “The Superman” on the same team, the Miami Heat became a universe of their own, much like the DC comics that inspired their nicknames. Recently, Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade sat down with Candace Parker for a live episode of Trophy Room. What he revealed about his former teammate has left fans buzzing with questions.

Parker asked Wade about his experience when the iconic 2004 trade went down. Shaquille O’Neal is leaving the Lakers to join the Miami Heat. It was only Wade’s second season in the league, so naturally playing alongside a legend like Shaq was a watershed moment for a rookie still discovering his full potential. Wade didn’t sugarcoat it, saying, “Pressure, that’s what came with Shaq.” And he wasn’t exaggerating. Any NBA fan knows how competitive and dominating Shaq could be on the court. Even his teammates could not hide from the immense pressure when he was with the Lakers.

In 2004, Shaquille O’Neal left the Los Angeles Lakers to join the Miami Heat, following a growing feud with teammate Kobe Bryant. The Lakers ultimately chose to prioritize keeping Bryant, leading to Shaq’s trade after their relationship soured, especially after a loss in the 2004 NBA Finals. Shaq was furious at the time, and Wade recalled, “So, now he gets traded to Miami. You know he’s mad, obviously, right? It’s been some beef. We heard about the beef.” Despite the tension, the pairing of Shaq and Wade in Miami created one of the most dynamic duos in NBA history.

Wade was a rookie, and Shaq was already a legend in the league. So, the pressure was obviously intense. But instead of backing down, Wade saw this pressure as an opportunity to blossom and show the world that he wasn’t just here to play the game, he was here to dominate. Wade reflected, “And then after that I turned that pressure into opportunity, and I was like, man, this is what I’ve been waiting for. This is actually what I’ve been screaming to everybody, let them know that I am actually good.”

That mindset turned Wade into the star we all know today. He is such a player who accepted the challenge and ultimately rose to greatness alongside one of the NBA’s all-time best. This was Wade’s perspective on Shaq during their time in Miami. But have you ever wondered how Shaq, accepted Wade when he first came to the Heat?

Shaquille O’Neal reveals his first conversation with Dwyane Wade after they teamed up

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were two dominant forces on the same team, each with massive talent and egos. Their inevitable clashes grew over time. And despite winning three consecutive NBA titles together, their relationship unraveled, strained by everything from on-court touches to off-court tensions. Ultimately, Shaq made his way to Miami, where he would team up with another rising star, Dwyane Wade, marking the start of a new chapter.

But from the very start, Shaq was determined to do things differently. He didn’t want the same drama with Wade that had unfolded in Los Angeles. Shaq shared his approach on The OGs podcast, explaining, “The first thing I did when I came to Miami I said, ‘look you(Wade) heard a lot of sh-t about me, that ain’t going to happen with me and you.” 

The reason Shaq joined the Heat was clear: to win another championship before Kobe Bryant. But it was also true that Shaq was counting on Wade to make that happen. As he put it, “This your sh-t. I don’t want them to cause no Shaq-D Wade because it’s sh-t already. I came here because of you. Cause I need a player like you to help me get one more. So me and him never had a problem.” Shaq’s trust in Wade marked the beginning of a championship partnership that reshaped the Heat’s future. It was a bond bond based on mutual respect and a shared goal.