Newsletter
Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Reading: Dwyane Wade Reveals Shaquille O’Neal Told Him He’d Be A Hall Of Famer After His Rookie Season
Fadeaway WorldFadeaway World
Search
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Follow US
Home > NBA News & Analysis > Dwyane Wade Reveals Shaquille O’Neal Told Him He’d Be A Hall Of Famer After His Rookie Season

Dwyane Wade Reveals Shaquille O’Neal Told Him He’d Be A Hall Of Famer After His Rookie Season

Shaquille O'Neal told Dwyane Wade back in 2004 that he'd be a Hall of Famer.

Gautam Varier
Aug 13, 2023
4 Min Read
Share

Credit: Fadeaway World

  • Dwyane Wade was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday
  • Shaquille O’Neal predicted Wade would be a Hall of Famer back in 2004
  • O’Neal also felt he would be one of the greatest two guards ever

Dwyane Wade had a fine rookie season with the Miami Heat in 2003-04 after being selected with the fifth pick of the 2003 NBA Draft. He helped the Heat get to the playoffs and the following season, the team acquired Shaquille O’Neal.

O’Neal had been quite impressed by what he’d seen from Wade, who averaged 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game as a rookie. Wade revealed that the big man told him back then that he’d be a Hall of Famer and would go down as one of the best two guards ever.

“When Shaq got to Miami, immediately we talked about the relationships with Penny (Hardaway), the relationships with Kobe (Bryant), and what was not gonna happen with us,” Wade said. “Also, he was at a different place in his career and so he was pumping a lot of juice in me.

“Shaq told me I was gonna be one of the greatest two guards that ever played,” Wade continued. “Shaq told me I was gonna be sitting here as a Hall of Famer one day and I looked at him like ‘Okay, if you say it then I’mma do it’.”

https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1690405372874395648

Well, that prediction was spot on. It would have meant a lot to Wade to hear someone like O’Neal say that. Here was a former MVP and three-time champion telling him just how great he could be, and Wade certainly lived up to Shaq’s expectations.

Wade would end up with career averages of 22.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. He won three championships, a Finals MVP, and was a 13-time All-Star.


Shaquille O’Neal Wanted To Help Dwyane Wade Become A Superstar

It is clear that Wade has a ton of respect and admiration for O’Neal. Shaq may not have been the dominant force that he had been with the Los Angeles Lakers when he came to Miami, but his presence was still huge for Wade. The conversations that the two of them had and the wisdom that O’Neal imparted to him at a young age helped him become the iconic player he is today.

The 41-year-old revealed earlier this year that when O’Neal arrived, he wanted to help Wade become a superstar. Shaq told the youngster that the Heat were his team and that he was going to help him become one of the greatest ever. Wade certainly did end up becoming one of the greats, and O’Neal had a part to play in that.

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Dwyane WadeShaquille O'Neal
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
ByGautam Varier
Follow:
Gautam Varier is a staff writer and columnist for Fadeaway World from Mumbai, India. He graduated from Symbiosis International University with a Master of Business specializing in Sports Management in 2020. This educational achievement enables Gautam to apply sophisticated analytical techniques to his incisive coverage of basketball, blending business acumen with sports knowledge.Before joining Fadeaway World in 2022, Gautam honed his journalistic skills at Sportskeeda and SportsKPI, where he covered a range of sports topics with an emphasis on basketball. His passion for the sport was ignited after witnessing the high-octane offense of the Steve Nash-led Phoenix Suns. Among the Suns, Shawn Marion stood out to Gautam as an all-time underrated NBA player. Marion’s versatility as a defender and his rebounding prowess, despite being just 6’7”, impressed Gautam immensely. He admired Marion’s finishing ability at the rim and his shooting, despite an unconventional jump shot, believing that Marion’s skill set would have been even more appreciated in today’s NBA.This transformative experience not only deepened his love for basketball but also shaped his approach to sports writing, enabling him to connect with readers through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis.
Previous Article James Harden Has No Plans To Report To 76ers Training Camp Amidst Team Ending Trade Talks With Clippers
Next Article The Three-Team Blockbuster Trade Idea: Pascal Siakam To Warriors, Andrew Wiggins To Mavericks
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Newsletter
Facebook X-twitter Instagram

You Might Also Like

Chris Paul looks on as Team CP3 plays a game against Nightrydas at Nike EYBL at the Memphis Sports & Events Center.
Los Angeles Clippers News & Analysis

Chris Paul Hilariously Calls Out Clippers Over Training Camp Decision: “That’s Some Bulls***”

October 5, 2025
San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) guards New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the first half at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images
New York Knicks News & Analysis

Jalen Brunson Picks Derrick Rose Over Stephen Curry And Luka Doncic

October 5, 2025
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder News & Analysis

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder, Accused Of Fouling Their Way To Victory In 2025 Playoffs

October 5, 2025
New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Lakers News & Analysis

NFL Star Watches LeBron James’ Highlights Before Every Game He Plays

October 4, 2025

NBA - Fadeaway World

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards

Pages

  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA Media
  • Exclusive NBA Interviews
  • NBA 2K News & Updates

© 2025 Fadeaway World @ All Rights Reserved

  • About Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World Authors
  • Editorial Team
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Contact Us
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?