Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

Shaq on Dwyane Wade in NBA Finals #shorts #nba #nbafinals #nbaplayoffs #dwyanewade #shaq

4 Jun 2024 · 1 min

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In this short interview clip, Shaquille O'Neal reflects on a pivotal moment early in an NBA Finals series when his team fell behind 0-2. He reveals that he was dealing with a personal divorce and was frustrated by his own poor performance in the first two games. Shaq describes pulling Dwyane Wade into a locker‑room confrontation, aggressively questioning Wade’s willingness to step up. Wade’s reaction—initial relief followed by a determined “Okay, Shaq”—prompted him to elevate his play and help turn the series around. Shaq also notes that throughout his career he was fortunate to play alongside three of the greatest guards, underscoring the importance of elite backcourt partners in his success.

D-Wade. Our first argument was in the Finals. We go down 0-2. I'm declining Shaq. I'm going through a divorce. I'm not Shaq. I have a— My first 2 games is fucking terrible, awful. So I pulled D-Wade in the room. "The fuck you gonna do, man? Motherfucker, you wanna be the man? What the fuck you gonna do?" I wasn't trying to fight, I was just asking a question. He had a look of relief like, "Oh, I can?" I was like, "Yeah, motherfucker." And he said, "Okay, Shaq." And he went off. So I was fortunate enough to play with 3 of the greatest guards.