During Sunday night’s NBA All-Star game Kobe Bryant was fouled hard by Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade. The foul ended up fracturing Bryant’s nose and possibly gave him a concussion. While Bryant is expected to be re-examined today to determine his availability for Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wade has been the subject of much fan-venom for not apologizing to Bryant.
Now, according to the Sun Sentinel, Wade has apparently apologized to Bryant for the hard foul following Heat practice on Monday.
“I sent him a message, with my apologies. Unfortunate that happened to him, but that’s all I could do,” Wade said following Tuesday’s practice at AmericanAirlines Arena, the first time he has commented on the incident since Sunday. “He knows it’s no ill intent on me to do that. Did I take a foul? Yes, I took a foul. So, talk about me for taking a foul. But I never wanted that kind of outcome.”
There’s no doubt it was a hard foul, and some even say it should have been labeled as flagrant. However, since the foul took place in an exhibition game, where malicious fouls are hardly ever committed, it was overlooked.
Wade and the Heat will be in Los Angeles Sunday to take on Bryant’s Lakers.
For those who haven’t seen the foul, the video is below.
httpvhd://youtu.be/BKeiXktTvN4