Miami players talk about Wade’s hard All-Star Game foul on Kobe

During Sunday’s All-Star game, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade delivered a hard foul on Kobe Bryant that resulted in Bryant breaking his nose. Today, the Heat’s “Big Three” all talked about the foul and the resulting injury. Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel says that Wade has apologized to Bryant for injuring him, but does say he intentionally “took the foul":

Dwyane Wade said he was sorry. To Kobe Bryant. So as far as the Miami Heat guard is concerned, it’s case closed when it comes to his hard foul that broke the nose of the Los Angeles Lakers guard in Sunday’sNBA All-Star Game.

“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.”

LeBron James made the astute observation that Kobe Bryant never needs extra motivation when it comes to basketball, especially when he’s playing against the Heat:

LeBron James says not to overstate any added motivation for Kobe Bryant going into Sun

day’s Heat-Lakers game: “Kobe doesn’t need extra motivation. He motivates himself. He’s always prepared to play, especially when we go against him.”

Chris Bosh, meanwhile, said that the foul will add some “spice” to the already-anticipated matchup:

Chris Bosh on what Dwyane Wade’s swipe at Kobe Bryant does for Sunday’s Heat-Lakers game: “It was already spicy enough. It’ll be fun. It’ll be something to play on the reels over and over before the game.People like that. They like to tune in. So I’m sure it will be pumped up a lot.”

It’s true that Bryant never needs extra motivation, especially when facing the Heat: after the Lakers lost in Miami last regular season, Bryant infamously stayed in the gym taking jump shots for quite a while after the game was over. Still, it will be interesting to see what effect Wade’s foul will have on what was already a highly anticipated contest on Sunday.