Shaq reveals the biggest difference between Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant

Shaquille O’Neal received a fair amount of criticism for how he handled his relationship with Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, but he recently claimed in an interview that he found he didn’t need to push Dwyane Wade in the same way after he was traded to the Miami Heat nearly 20 years ago.

In an interview with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller’s “The OGs” podcast, Shaq described the difference between how he handled playing with Kobe and Wade.

According to Shaq, young Kobe needed a push to unlock his potential. Driven by his aspirations of being the next Michael Jordan, Shaq said he used to use that to motivate his Lakers teammate. He’d tell Kobe that he wasn’t the next Michael Jordan, but that the kid in Cleveland (LeBron James) was. 

“That used to eat him up,” Shaq said. “When you spank the puppy, they [cower]. He wasn’t like that. He was the puppy who would show you his teeth.”

While many fans thought Shaq and Kobe didn’t like each other, Shaq claimed he “knew what I was doing as a leader.”

Shaquille O'Neal said Dwyane Wade didn't need extra motivation.

But he didn’t take the same approach with Wade. 

“D-Wade, from what I saw, he already had it,” O’Neal said.

After Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat in the summer of 2005, he decided to take a different approach to leading his new team.

“First thing I did when I came to Miami, I said ‘Look, you heard a lot of sh** about me. That ain’t gonna happen with me and you. This your sh**. I’m gonna help you. I’m gonna guide you. This your sh**.”

Shaq arrived in Miami at 32 years old. There was little to no indication of a decline at that point, but it happened soon enough. By 34, Shaq’s numbers slipped to career-lows. Based on his comments, he may have known his window was closing.

“I came here because of you, because I need someone like you to help me get one more [championship],” Shaq said of Wade.

Of course, the Heat won their first championship in 2006, Wade emerged as the Finals MVP and navigated the greatest era in franchise history. All kicked off by the front office’s bet on Shaquille O’Neal as his co-star.