3. Shaquille O’Neal (2004-2008)
After winning three championships with the Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal’s tumultuous relationship with teammate Kobe Bryant led him to request to be traded in 2014, ultimately resulting in becoming teammates with rising second-year star Dwyane Wade.
Wade and O’Neal catapulted the middling Heat to an NBA championship within just two years, beating the Dallas Mavericks in 2006. O’Neal averaged 19.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, ranked fifth in blocks, and ninth in total rebounds when he played alongside Wade.
While Shaq and Wade played together for just four years, Flash and The Diesel proved to be one of the most lethal duos in the NBA and played a pivotal role in transforming the Heat into a championship-caliber franchise.
Friction with former head coach Pat Riley led O’Neal to be traded to the Phoenix Suns before the 2007 trade deadline, but the two sides have since worked out their relationship, resulting in Shaq’s jersey being retired by the franchise.