Kobe Bryant is a bit of a psychopath. At least when it comes to competition.
That’s not really a fresh take. We all know Kobe was crazy about winning and would do pretty much anything to get an edge on his opponent, but this story from Dwyane Wade about the time he accidentally broke Kobe’s nose during an All-Star Game — and picked up the first and only flagrant found in the event’s history — just adds to the legend of Kobe’s competitive fire.
The story comes from a sit-down interview with Kevin Garnett ahead of Wade’s final All-Star Game appearance…
“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, we got the Lakers about three games after the break … I call him, not maliciously. I didn’t maliciously do it. I called him and said ‘Yo Kob” and he was like ‘Bro, I love it.’ I’m like [taken aback.] He’s like ‘I love it. I’ll see you in a couple days.’ And I’m like ‘Oh snap.’ And he gave it to me, too, boy.”
The best part of this video might be Kevin Garnett, who was known to go to some dark places on the basketball court, doing the crazy sign in reference to Kobe.
As for that Heat-Lakers game, Wade’s memory is correct. Kobe did go off for 33 points on 14-of-23 shooting in a 93-83 win for the Lakers.
The game was probably decided the moment Wade broke Kobe’s nose. There was no way he’d let that deed go unpunished.
