GIF: Dwyane Wade Shares Advice With Andrew Wiggins After Heat Beat ‘Wolves

There’s so much more to like about the NBA than the actual game of basketball. This special moment between a future Hall-of-Famer and a teenage prodigy is a perfect example. After Dwyane Wade led the Miami Heat to a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, the three-time champion offered sage advice to ballyhooed rookie Andrew Wiggins.

Coach Flip Saunders charged Wiggins with guarding Wade as the ‘Wolves made a run down the stretch. And though Miami’s 11-year veteran got the best of the 19 year-old by scoring six points in the game’s last three minutes, Wade was obviously still impressed Minny’s youngster.

Immediately after the clock struck zeros, Wade went out of his way share a few words with Wiggins.

As for the message the 2006 Finals MVP relayed to the University of Kansas product, Wiggins says that Wade encouraged with a simple question. Via ESPN’s Isreal Gutierrez:

“He asked me if I wanted to be great,” Wiggins said of his postgame exchange with Wade. “I said yes. He said I’ve got all the tools to be great, just keep working…”

“Those words at the end of the game just motivate me,” Wiggins said. “Already I’m thinking about what he said, and it’s going to carry through for a long time now.

“He’s one of the people I watched growing up, one of the people I idolized. That guy right there is great.”

Awesome.

While the television broadcast showed Wade and Wiggins conversing, Miami commentators recalled Kevin Garnett pulling a rookie Flash aside 11 years prior for a similar discussion. What pride Wade must take in being able to offer the Canadian sensation guidance of his own after enjoying so much success. And perhaps a decade from now after multiple titles and a legendary career, Wiggins will do the same with the next prospective superstar.

We love the game, but we love this league even more.

What do you think?

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