Dwyane Wade recently appeared on The OGs show and shared some fascinating insights into his NBA “Mount Rushmore,” his experiences with Kobe Bryant, and memories from his career. When asked to name his all-time top four players, Wade named three Los Angeles Lakers legends alongside Michael Jordan, crafting a Mount Rushmore that reflects the dominance of Lakers stars across eras.
“No orders because the orders can get changed. Let’s leave the orders out, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal… And Shaq keep talking s**t, I’m put Steph in there and take him out. But I won a championship with Big Fella, I wouldn’t.” (1:33:30)
Wade’s Mount Rushmore selection offers a glimpse into the players he holds in the highest regard. For Wade, Michael Jordan is the ultimate GOAT, a figure whose legacy and impact are unparalleled in the game. LeBron James, whom Wade considers his best teammate ever, joins the list alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, all legends who left an indelible mark on the NBA.
Wade’s admiration for Kobe Bryant speaks volumes about the influence of the “Mamba Mentality.” Kobe’s relentless work ethic and competitive drive served as a constant inspiration, pushing Wade to elevate his own game.
In reflecting on his time playing alongside Kobe Bryant on the 2008 U.S. Olympic “Redeem Team,” Wade gave a rare look into the intensity that fueled Bryant’s career.
“I did the Redeem team documentary, I was a part of the production crew over there, and we got to tell a lot of stories and the favorite would always be Kobe, it would always be about Kobe bro.”
“It’s just really you hear about someone’s work, you hear about that. I forget what he called himself but you hear about that beast right, you hear about that inner beast that Mamba but you don’t really know because he in LA and you don’t get to see it.”
“We got to see it and I was like oh, he different. Like I saw somebody who was different like, I saw things in him that, I was like I have those things but I also saw a difference and I was like this is why he is great as he is.”
“Me and Kobe got real cool and it was really from that competitiveness. We got cool in the Olympics because like I said I will see him in the morning, we talk about the Redeem team.”
“Kobe will work out and get up early and do all these things and I was on the same regimen because I was coming back from my injury and Tim Grover wasn’t playing those games and so I was I was in the gym a lot with Kobe in the mornings and I got a chance to like experience that guy.”
“I went around MJ, I’ve been around Bron, I’ve been around Kobe and I got a chance to experience these two different beasts in a whole different way and man I appreciate it.”
“I appreciate him so much, so he was my favorite in the Olympics man. I was like a magnet anytime I got a chance to be around Kobe because I’m just soaking it up and he’s one of my favorite players.” (1:29:43)
Another memorable encounter between the two occurred during the 2012 All-Star Game, when Wade accidentally broke Kobe’s nose on a hard foul:
“Kobe was f***ing me up in the all-star game, people don’t understand that.”
“We don’t never talk about that side of it. Kobe was doing stuff to me and I told I’m like Kobe bro stop, what you doing now.”
“You don’t try to break nobody nose, but I did try to foul him. I definitely try to foul him in all-star game. I was like, I let him go and then I hit him.”
“He got me back that next game. I knew he was gonna get me back. It wasn’t no shock cuz I heard his tone when I called him, he was too calm I was like yeah, yeah this ain’t good.” (1:31:30)
Wade recounted a game against the Lakers where Erik Spoelstra tasked Wade with guarding Kobe from the opening tip despite Wade not feeling fully prepared:
“Let me tell you a quick story what Spo did to me. So we go to play the Lakers, this is right after that and it’s an early game, we doing a walk through in the ballroom and Spo was like, ‘Shane I want you to start on Kobe.'”
“So I’m like cool, I get to kind of warm-up into the game and then I get on them… We get there late, the bus get there late because we in traffic, all the way from Beverley Hills and Spo come out at 35.”
“I ain’t got a chance to go out there and do no warm-ups, Spo come in and say nah, ‘I thought about it now, we going right at them. D you guard him.'”
“I’m not prepared, I wasn’t ready. That’s a behind the scenes combo, I wasn’t ready and I knew that he was coming with but I was trying to work myself into the game. Kobe was ready.” (1:32:15)
In all, Wade’s Mount Rushmore is a fitting tribute to the Lakers’ influence and to the players he respected most. Each figure on his list left an indelible mark on the NBA, and Wade’s stories showcase the intensity, respect, and friendship shared between some of the league’s greatest icons. Wade’s admiration for his peers, particularly for Kobe Bryant, underscores the mutual respect and camaraderie that define the NBA’s elite.
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