Dwyane Wade Shares Story Of Playing Against Kobe For First Time

The story comes from a sit-down interview with Kevin Garnett ahead of Wade’s final All-Star game appearance. Wade shares the story.

“Me and Kob’ got into a little tussle in the All-Star Game, and I ended up hitting him the wrong way and breaking his nose. … So after the All-Star break, we got the Lakers about three games after the break … I call him, not maliciously. I didn’t maliciously do it.

I called him and said ‘Yo Kob” and he was like ‘Bro, I love it.’ I’m like [taken aback.] He’s like ‘I love it. I’ll see you in a couple days.’ And I’m like ‘Oh snap.’ And he gave it to me, too, boy.”

As for the Miami Heat-Lakers game, Wade’s memory is correct. Kobe went off for 33 points on 14-of-23 shooting in a 93-83 win for the Lakers.

It’s likely the game had already been decided when Wade broke Kobe’s nose. There was no way that he would let that deed go unpunished.