Dwayne Wade had an interesting first meeting with one of his favorite players when he was introduced to Allen Iverson at a casino.
During his rookie year, Wade accompanied former Miami Heat teammate Eddie Jones to a casino in Puerto Rico. That's where Iverson tossed him a $1,000 chip and told him to go play.
Being a savvy rookie, Wade played $500 and pocketed the other $500.
.@DwyaneWade on the time he met Allen Iverson at a casino as a rookie:
“He threw me a $1,000 chip and was like, ‘Yo, go play this, young fella.’ So I played $500, and I put the other $500 in my pocket.”
True OG 🤣
(via @LefkoeShow) pic.twitter.com/Q3wrubw93u
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 5, 2020
This might have been a wise decision on Wade's part. Although it also hints at Iverson's penchant for gambling and spending money.
Iverson filed for bankruptcy twice in retirement. And Yahoo! Finance estimated he lost over $200 million that he made throughout the course of his NBA career.
In any case, Wade and Iverson remained extremely close both during their time in the NBA and in retirement. The two shared a moment during All-Star weekend shortly after the death of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
Wade has remained active in his first year out of the league. The three-time NBA champion has already taken on a big role with TNT. And he has been supportive of his son Zaire's pursuits as a prep basketball prospect at Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles.
Iverson has not been quite as visible, though he made multiple statements following Kobe's passing.
Both Wade and Iverson are two of the foremost stars that helped define basketball throughout the 2000s. Iverson entered the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and Wade will soon follow.
Ultimately, Wade's recollection of his first time meeting Iverson serves as a reminder. It serves as a reminder for the kind of trend-setter and unabashed personality A.I. possessed during his ascent to superstardom.
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