Dwyane Wade Shares Story Of Playing Against Kobe For First Time

NBA on TNT sideline reporter Rachel Nichols chronicled the story Wade told her:

Way too long for 140 characters, but here’s the Kobe story Dwyane Wade told me. This was last month, the night before the Heat hosted the Lakers here in Miami. Wade decided to stop by the arena and get in a soak in the cold tub. He goes through the Heat’s locker-room area, back over to the training room, and who is already just sitting there in the tub…Kobe Bryant.

Wade told me in the 13 years he’s played for the Heat, he’s never ever seen Pat Riley let an opposing player into the inner sanctum like that, using the team’s facilities and that, frankly, he was shocked. Of course, that’s the respect that Kobe has earned, and the two old friends had a great, long talk.

At the end of it, Kobe asked Dwyane if his sons were coming to the game the next night. Dwyane said ‘no,’ as it was a school night, and Kobe said, ‘you know what, bring them; I think it’s going to be my last time here.’ Dwyane brought the boys, they got a lifetime memory after the game, taking pictures with Kobe, and the Wade family got a little sneak preview of Kobe’s retirement announcement before anyone else.

The anecdote shows just how respected Bryant was around the NBA.