In the history of the National Basketball Association, the competition between Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade shaped the legacies of basketball legends. Their fierce battles on the court bring out a completely exciting story: “The Hardest Player I Had to Guard”, Kobe Bryant stated this himself, and it came back to light whilst Dwyane Wade was honored with an induction into the NBA Hall of Fame.
In 2016, at some point during Kobe Bryant’s farewell, when the final buzzer sounded at their last court session, Dwyane Wade, playfully interrupted Bryant’s postgame interview, joking, “He’s [Bryant] gotta go. We got some business to talk about.”
Awesome moment: Kobe’s final season. Wade interrupts his presser after a Heat-Lakers game. “We gotta go” 😂 They had dinner plans, start joking. Then Kobe praises Wade’s competitive 🔥:
“I love him. He was a vicious competitor. He’s vicious, he’s mean. We could have those type… pic.twitter.com/8iTESuIxMw
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) August 12, 2023
Immediately after Wade’s interruption, Kobe Bryant stated, “I love him. He was a vicious competitor. He’s vicious, he’s mean. We could have those type of battles then afterwards hang out, have a conversation, lace ’em up, and go right back at it. I enjoyed competing against him. The hardest player I had to guard in screen and roll. He’d come off a screen and disappear.”
As their careers progressed, it have become clear that Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant were from an identical fabric. Bryant’s admiration for Wade went beyond their intense battles, acknowledging Wade’s competitiveness and tenacity. Their ability to switch from fierce competitors to friends off the court showcased the complexity of their relationship.
Dwyane Wade beat Kobe Bryant in 20 matchups
When it comes to NBA records, the names Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade genuinely rise to the top. These two giants ranked as the second and third-best in league history. Their head-to-head battles spanned 20 games giving electricity and showcasing their capabilities on each offense and defense.
Of these 20 matchups, Wade won 11 games and Bryant won nine games. In their duels, Bryant averaged 26.1 points on 43.6% shooting, at the same time Wade averaged 24.3 points on 45.5% shooting accuracy.
Bryant’s capability to consist of his teammates manifested itself in a median of 4.7 assists. Wade, on the other hand, showed an excellent game with 6.5 assists. Bryant outplayed Wade in eleven matchups, however, Wade ruled in assists in 12 games and showed his ability at passing opportunities to others.
In their matchups, Bryant averaged 1.2 steals and 0.4 blocks, while Wade confirmed mind-blowing versatility with 1.9 steals and an impressive 1.1 blocks per game.
Dwayne has more steals than Kobe in 11 games, and he even had 4 games with 4 steals. In comparison, Bryant’s shielding dominance blanketed more blocks in a game against Wade. The Bryant-Wade contention became a refrain of offensive intelligence, protective tenacity, and unforgettable moments.