In 2006, Wade and O'Neal won the first championship in Heat history, and Wade was elected MVP of the Finals. Recently, Payton, the "glove" who played for the Heat at the time, revealed that he persuaded O'Neal to cede to Wade during a guest on Dream Green's podcast show. Wade updated Instagram, saying that O'Neal's selfless release of power is the reason why the Heat can win the first crown.
Payton said on the show that he was the oldest player on the Heat at the time. He noticed at the time that O'Neal was a little mad because he couldn't get the ball. So he approached O'Neal and asked him to keep an eye on the performance of the young players in the team, saying that the young players had begun to take over the team. "That's why Pat (Riley) brought us players together, he wanted a championship," Payton said.
Payton went on to persuade O'Neal that it was time for Wade to take the helm, at least in the short term. "Just for me, please give the team to him," Payton told O'Neal at the time, "let him take charge of everything, let him be himself." If you're stuck in a good position under the basket, we can also stuff the ball for you. ”
In the end, O'Neal was persuaded by Payton, and then Wade did play basketball that Payton had never seen before, leading the Heat to victory.
Wade then updated Instagram Story to reveal that he had told O'Neal at the time: "Go into the box and we'll pass you." "And O'Neal took the initiative to make concessions and gave him the lead of the team." When your veterans are one of the best in history and they take the initiative to put you in charge, the championship is in hand," Wade wrote.
As we all know, O'Neal did not have a good relationship with Kobe during the Lakers' triple crown, and it was because O'Neal was reluctant to delegate power to Kobe. But after leaving the Lakers, O'Neal gradually accepted the reality, and for this reason he had the right to give O'Neal in the Heat. This is also the only one of O'Neal's 4 championships who did not win the finals MVP. (Supine Braces/Hairy)