During the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, a hard foul from Dwyane Wade left Kobe Bryant with a broken nose. While most players would have been furious, Kobe had a different reaction, “I loved it.” Now years later Wade has finally spoken about the infamous moment. Was it intentional? Did he mean to take down the Black Mamba, or was it just an unfortunate accident? Let’s find out!

On a recent episode of The Why with Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat legend opened up about the infamous play that left Kobe with a broken nose. Looking back, Wade admitted he had no idea what he was stepping into that night. “Kobe would go out there and be ready to bust your A–,” Wade recalled. “So when I was that all-star game in particular that we talking about, Kobe was f—— me up on the other end”. Well, that’s Kobe for you. 

But it wasn’t just about scoring. Kobe played mind games, using every trick in the book. ”He was hitting me, he was doing that little pinching right here,” Wade said, pointing to his waist (showing his waistline), “and I was like Ko, and he don’t care, Ko, he locked in, he is a competitor”.

Wade wasn’t about to back down. If Kobe wanted a fight, he was getting one. “I lose myself a little bit”, Wade admitted. “I’m like oh! That’s what we doing here… so on the opposite end I’m like get the ball because I’m f—— you up”. Then, in a moment nobody saw coming, not even Wade himself. Wade delivered a hard foul that broke Kobe’s nose.

Man, that night was one nobody wanted to remember but nobody could forget. The incident sent shockwaves through the league, and even NBA legends weighed in. The consensus? It was unexpected, but it wasn’t intentional. Wade didn’t shy away from the fact that he fouled Kobe and that caused him a bloody nose. Wade came forward and openly apologized to Kobe. 

Kobe’s iconic comeback after Dwyane Wade’s hard hit

It was a moment that shocked fans and left many wondering if it was intentional. During the 2012 NBA All-Star game, Dwyane Wade committed a hard foul on Kobe Bryant, unintentionally breaking his nose. But while that incident might have looked aggressive, it was a spur-of-the-moment reaction, one that Wade immediately wanted to make right. 

In a conversation with fellow Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, Wade recalled the aftermath of the altercation. “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… I called him and said, ‘Yo Kob,” Wade said, remembering the tension that followed. To his surprise, Kobe’s response was far from anger. Instead, Kobe laughed it off, saying, “Bro, I love it. I’ll see you in a couple of days.” Wade was left in disbelief, but Kobe’s playful tone made it clear he didn’t hold a grudge. 

However, when the Heat and Lakers met again soon after the All-Star game, Kobe was all business. The Lakers superstar exacted his revenge in the most Kobe way possible by dominating the game. He dropped 33 points and held Wade to just 16. Bryant led the Lakers to a 93-83 victory, making sure Wade knew there were no free passes on the court.

After the game, Wade reflected on the importance of reaching out to Kobe. Despite the fierce competition, it was clear that both respected each other’s game. The call was a symbol of that mutual respect, ensuring there were no lingering hard feelings between two of the league’s greatest.