If intriguing games and thrilling dunks have kept the fans on the edge of their seats, then the rivalries and friendships that exist alongside have also kept fans enchanted. One such ‘friendly’ rivalry is between LeBron James‘ ‘brother’ Dwyane Wade and late player Kobe Bryant.

They have many iconic moments together. One is from the All-Star weekend which ended in Bryant breaking his nose and Wade receiving a flagrant foul. What surprised Wade even more was Kobe?s classic response to the foul.

Bryant?s epic response left Wade speechless

During the 2012 NBA All-Star game, fans saw both the shooting guards go head-to-head in an epic battle. The exciting exchange had Wade committing a flagrant foul and Bryant getting a nasal fracture.

Kobe was moving toward the basket in an effort to make a layup when his face got hit by Wade?s arm. Despite being hurt and bleeding, he did not lose his calm. Even after getting his nose broken, he maintained his poise. The game ended with Kobe scoring 27 points and Wade with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Wade instantly expressed regret for the situation following the game. He called Bryant to apologize for the broken-nose incident. But he was surprised to hear the legend’s reply. Bryant’s words were, “Bro, I love it. I?ll see you in a couple of days.?

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Bryant was motivated by the whole exchange. It only encouraged him to fight even more fiercely. This is a classic example of Kobe’s Mamba mentality. the same spirit and mindset that inspired many players – from Devin Booker to Damian Lillard, basketball players respect and steadfastly follow Kobe’s mentality.

Kobe’s iconic comeback

Kobe is a phenomenal player and so is his personality both on and off the court. While on the basketball floor, he respected and admired his competitors. He once mentioned how it is the respect that allowed him to play in such high spirits.

With a mask on, Kobe made an iconic comeback performance after the incident. He scored 33 points leading the Los Angeles Lakers to beat the Miami Heat 93-83.

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What do you think about Kobe’s Mamba mentality? Tell us in the comments!