Stephen A. Smith and beef? Oh, you can never part the two. But is it in the blood? For us to discover. But remember, Shaquille O’Neal is the one who gave Dwyane Wade his famous nickname? While Wade didn’t exactly warm up to the name when it was first introduced, he eventually connected with it. As fans shouted out his nickname whenever they saw him, the word became more and more endearing to him. And regardless of who says what, he is the OG Flash! So, he had to call out Stephen A. Smith’s nephew! Reason? Disrespect to his nickname, which became a symbol of his impact on the game. So, another beef loading?
And he did it in his style. Taking it to The Stephen A. Smith Show, Wade made a special clip to be shown on the latest episode. In the clip, Wade, who can be seen driving his car, addressed his message to both Smith and his nephew, Josh Smith. “Tell Josh that I’m really disappointed in him that he didn’t know who the original flash was,” Wade said as he brought the camera close to an actual flash pendant chain he was wearing. “Pay homage to the original Flash before you introduce a new Flash character all right so I’m still a big fan but that’s strike one,” Wade concluded. Josh, who might not have expected it, was in absolute shock.
What happened is that just a few weeks ago, Stephen A. Smith, on his show, spoke about Wade and his influence as Flash. His nephew, perhaps jokingly, pretended that he didn’t know Flash. And before it could reach Wade, Stephen A. was the first to react. Expect the unexpected? He was visibly disappointed at the stunt pulled by his nephew.
“Be gone… 3x NBA Champion, the hall of famer, one of the greatest off guards in the history of basketball, that dude. Suddenly, you don’t know who he is,” the ESPN analyst said. Smith doesn’t appreciate anyone undermining Wade’s influence and achievements. Not even Wade himself.
Nov 9, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Heat defeated the Mavericks 105-96. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
When the Heat champ said that he belongs to the 25th floor of NBA greatness rather than the top 30th, the ESPN analyst was quick to add that he is wrong! And when it comes to the name Flash, Smith believes the same. And it is the same impact and determination that inspired the Lakers legend to give this nickname to Wade.
Shaquille O’Neal gave a thoughtful name to Dwyane Wade’s public persona
When Shaquille O’Neal arrived in the Miami Heat to join forces with Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem, he brought more than just his championship pedigree—he brought wisdom, charisma, and an eye for branding. As a four-time NBA champion, Shaq had seen it all, both on and off the court. He understood that success wasn’t just about putting up points; it was about building a legacy. Recognizing Wade’s rising stardom, O’Neal took the young guard under his wing, sharing not only basketball strategies but also lessons in business and marketability.
One day, Shaq had a revelation. Wade was already electrifying crowds with his explosive speed and gravity-defying moves, but something was missing—something that would make him larger than life. O’Neal, known for his love of grand nicknames and playful monikers, decided his young teammate needed a title that truly embodied his on-court brilliance. Then it hit him. Like a bolt of lightning, the perfect name emerged: “Flash.” Inspired by Wade’s ability to dart past defenders in the blink of an eye, The Big Aristotle bestowed upon him a name that would stick for years to come. And just like that, Flash was born—a nickname that would become as legendary as the player himself.
“I was like, ‘Nah, I don’t really need a nickname.’ I wanted to be in the same breath as Bird, Jordan, just one name. Like Cher, like Madonna. But he wanted to get me a nickname,” Wade said once. “I was traveling to different cities and arenas, and everybody was calling me Flash,” he added. And that was how the flash sparked and has continued to be the brightest.
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