WATCH: Kevin Huerter swaps jerseys with childhood idol Dwyane Wade

Kevin_Huerter_Dwyane_Wade
Photo credit Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Kevin Huerter grew up idolizing Dwyane Wade. The former Maryland Terrapin chose No. 3 when he was drafted by the Hawks last June in honor of the legendary Heat guard.

And on Monday night, after Wade's Heat beat Huerter's Hawks, the 20-year-old rookie got to share a special moment with his basketball hero. 

Hawks Kevin Huerter wears #3 because he grew up idolizing Dwyane Wade....Wade knew this and surprised him with jersey exchange after game. pic.twitter.com/HXu3v7I1lO

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) March 5, 2019

"Earlier in the year a good friend told me about (Huerter) when he was younger that he used to wear my shoes and the No. 3 because of me, he looked up to me," Wade said afterwards. "So I knew I was going to surprise him the last time we played them but I really like his game."

"Since preseason when we played him to all the way up to now he’s gotten so much better. So from one No. 3 to another, I thought I’d switch jerseys with him."

Huerter has played his way into a significant role in Atlanta, averaging 9.4 points in 27.2 minutes per game. But perhaps more important personally, he's earned the respect of his childhood idol and a future Hall-of-Famer. 

“For as long as I can remember, me and my brother would wear his shoes when we were younger,” Huerter said of Wade. “We’d watch his game. He was really one of the first NBA guys I looked up to.”

"He’s always done it the right way. You never hear him with off-court type of stuff. He brought championships to this city. He’s been with the Heat for the majority of his career. He’s been loyal to them. And as a guy coming up, a young guy, starting out with the Hawks, I hope I can continue a long career with them. The league’s going to miss him, for sure.”

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