In his 20-year career, Kobe Bryant had established himself as one of the greatest players ever to touch the hardwood. From his 81-point masterpiece against the Toronto Raptors in 2006 to his back-to-back final MVPs in 2009 and 2010, Bryant’s resume was an example of his skill and determination. However, his final seasons told a different story. The Lakers’ record came down to 17-65 in Bryant’s last year, the worst in franchise history. It has now come to light that ‘Black Mamba’ was looking for experienced companions to play alongside him.

The official X account of ‘NBA Central’ recently tweeted and revealed that Kobe Bryant was desperate to win another ring in the final years of his career. Since he was playing alongside rookie players like D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle, it was becoming quite impossible for the shooting guard to keep up with his elite form. But the champ had an idea in mind to bring in experienced players like Dwyane Wade into the roster.

Dwyane Wade was a good choice by Kobe Bryant to help him with the championship for many reasons. He would have been steady scoring support and also would have lessened Bryant’s offensive responsibility. The shooting guard for the Miami Heat had averaged 21.5 PPG during the 2014-15 season which was a good number considering his age. If LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMarcus Cousins could be paired with his expertise, then Bryant’s terrible season would’ve had a great ending.

Unfortunately, the talks between the management were never finalized. On April 13, 2016, Kobe Bryant walked off the court after scoring 60 points in his farewell game which is a good ending that briefly masked the struggles of his final years. However, it was also disclosed that LeBron James joined the organization in 2016 just as a standard of care and also to help the young players. Bron wasn’t there to aid Bryant through his last season, but the King continued Black Mamba’s legacy after his passing in 2020 by winning the championship the same year.

The absence of Wade might have contributed to Bryant’s final seasons, but one should not forget about Bryant’s incredible achievements throughout his career. While Dwyane Wade never became part of the Lakers franchise, the 3x Heat champion is about to celebrate a special day in Miami.

Upcoming important day for Dwyane Wade

The Miami Heat legend is going to be immortalized with a bronze statue outside of Kaseya Center. The unveiling ceremony will be a two two-day event, with October 27 being the day of the statue reveal, and Wade will be recognized on October 27 during the halftime ceremony of the game between the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons.

On the first day of the event, there will be a musical performance by Rick Ross and Nino Breeze. Surprisingly, the sculptors of the statue Omri Amrany and Oscar León of the Rotblatt Amrany Studio, have a portfolio of sculpting figures for NBA greats. Two of their other famous works include the statues of Michael Jordan in Chicago and the Kobe and Gianna Bryant Memorial Statue in Los Angeles.

The halftime ceremony has also been slotted to play out exactly 21 years after the legend made his debut for the Heat. The statue will be a fitting tribute to one of the greatest players in NBA history and will serve as a reminder of Wade’s incredible accomplishments and his lasting legacy in Miami.