“Nobody told me I was cute!” Dwyane Wade’s ’50 most beautiful people’ nomination had superstar stunned
Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade became a bonafide superstar after winning his first NBA title in 2006 alongside Shaquille O'Neal.
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Dwyane Wade has embraced the superstar life after winning titles with the Miami Heat
Dwyane Wade played basketball well enough to be inducted into the Hall of Fame last year. But before he tasted success, he was just a basketball player who did not know the superstar life. After winning his first NBA title, his entire world changed. Now, a few years removed from retirement, the Miami Heat legend recalls what it was like to become that superstar.
The three-time champion was a guest on the podcast Unapologetically Angel. When host Angel Reese asked him about when he won his first championship and embraced the superstar life, he responded candidly.
First of all, the champagne had me, I was in the back lit. I had never had no drinks. I got right to it, I became like you. Commercials and brands and that came out of nowhere. Because nobody ever told me I was cute! This 50 most beautiful people in the world. I’m like, ‘Who? Me?’ So, my life just changed.
Dwyane Wade recalled
Dwyane Wade was vocal that that transition from just a basketball player to a superstar was not easy, as he had a lot going on in his life that he was not prepared to deal with at age 24.
The former Miami Heat star revealed that during his first championship year, he was struggling with issues in his personal life. That led to a split from high school girlfriend Siohvaughn Funches. He had commercials and brands coming to him with deals. But at the same time, he had an army of lawyers helping him battle for the custody of his children.
Dwyane Wade tells Angel about life after winning his first NBA championship ??
— Unapologetically Angel (@angelreeseshow) October 4, 2024
Watch full episode here: https://t.co/AHYboZ2iU6 pic.twitter.com/Oyrwf7Cq0Q
But after that, he embraced the attention and the glamor that came with being a superstar, a characteristic he has continued even after retiring. He owes it all to that 2006 NBA title that shot him up a level.
Shaquille O’Neal taught Dwyane Wade how to treat teammates
In another segment of the podcast, Angel Reese revealed how NIL deals helped her take care of her family. To this Dwyane Wade revealed how Shaquille O’Neal showed him the ropes.
He came in from being Shaq, being from LA. He kind off showed us what to do a little bit. When it came to gifting certain things to your teammates. When it came to taking your teammates out on the road. It was a lot of things he showed us.
Dwyane Wade said
Wade carried on revealing that he incorporated that culture when he became the veteran. Shaquille O’Neal taught him how to make his teammates happy.
In short, the now 42-year-old mentioned that basketball is a team sport. When one player is in a significantly better position than the others, they should take care of their teammates. That, in turn, will motivate the other players.
That philosophy has helped him win the NBA title three times, while also helping himself be one of the best players to ever play his position. His credits his former Hall of Famer teammate for showing him how to become a champion, both on and off the court.
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Joseph Varghese
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