Dwyane Wade Recalls Kobe Bryant’s Berserk Response to Getting His Nose Broken During the 2012 NBA All-Star Game

Nothing was normal about the way Kobe Bryant became an NBA legend. From studying sharks that hunt seals so he could find a cheat code to guard Allen Iverson, to his practices at 4 AM, all of it screamed Mamba mentality. He was unlike any other player who found unique and efficient ways to play the game he dearly loved.

In fact, this is a man who broke his finger in the middle of the game, went to the sidelines, got it back in its place, and then played as nothing happened. So, when his battle with Dwyane Wade became a little more violent than expected, he responded in the most ‘Kobe-way’ possible.

Kobe Bryant has the wildest response to his broken nose

Back in 2012, Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant were locking horns during the All-Star game. But Wade made history by committing the first flagrant foul of the tournament, that too on the Lakers legend. Kobe was driving towards the bucket and attempting to take a layup. It was then that Dwyane’s arms just hit Kobe’s nose brutally, and the latter started bleeding.

While Wade and Kobe may have been competitors, they had immense respect for one another. Both of them have eight NBA championships combined and were the shooting guards of the generation. So, Wade felt extremely guilty for what went down.

Thus, after the All-Star break, when the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat had to play, Wade called Kobe to apologize for the incident. And Kobe responded, “Bro, I love it. I’ll see you in a couple of days.” 

And when they did meet each other, Kobe took his revenge in his own way. Just a few days after the All-Star Game, he torched the Miami Heat with 33 points on the scoreboard, winning the game 93-83, all the while wearing a protective mask over his nose.

WATCH THIS STORY: Playing Through Injuries, Motivating His Teammates & Other Kobe Bryant Moment’s That Define His Mamba Mentality

How did the All-Star game turn out?

Despite his broken nose, Kobe and the West ended up winning that ASG by 152-149. Bryant finished with 27 points and Wade had 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Kobe’s entire career is filled with incredible competitiveness, so this was hardly a surprise. He never got fazed by any challenge and only focused on getting victories, even in an exhibition setting. Yet, he continues to amaze everyone when these stories come out, and one can only hope they never stop coming.

READ MORE: ‘More Balanced’: Jeanie Buss on Why Kobe Bryant’s Long Run With Lakers Might Never Happen in the NBA Again