Dwyane Wade finished his career as one of the most beloved players in recent decades. The Miami Heat legend was really cool and rarely messed with anybody, earning love of respect from rival fans.
However, there was one moment in his career where he got caught mocking a rival. Unfortunately for Wade, that man was Dirk Nowitzki, who channeled his inner Michael Jordan, took things personally and unleashed his power on Wade’s Miami Heat.
During the 2011 Finals, he and LeBron James mocked Nowitzki, who had the flu at the moment. That didn’t sit well with the German giant, who made sure to dominate Wade and James for the rest of the series. The Dallas Mavericks upset the Miami Heat 4-2, winning their first and only NBA championship.
10 years after that moment, people still ask Wade about it. Talking with Ben Golliver of The Washington Post, the retired shooting guard reflected on that moment, explaining what happened and how he felt after that.
Q: How long did it take you to get over the 2011 Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks? And, because so many people were upset by it, what’s your version of events when you and LeBron James coughed in the hallway because Dirk Nowitzki was sick during that series?
A: That process took until we got back to the Finals again. It was that long. You carry that thing. You don’t let it go. Do you get into the season and try to put it behind you? Yeah, but it burns inside you 1,000 percent.
The coughing incident was just being young. Taking something that you didn’t think was as serious — and it was serious from the standpoint of sickness and health — and just being a young kid and making fun of something. Trying to get a laugh or do something to the camera.
I don’t even like looking at the clip. I would tell my son not to do something like that. It wasn’t anything personal [toward Nowitzki]; it was just in the moment of the media trying to come up with stories. Kind of making fun of it, “Okay, he’s sick, all right; what other excuse are you going to give him?” It became a big thing. Do you mean to do something like that in the moment? Probably not, but you did it. You take it on the chin and move on.
Dirk was on a mission that year. He beat several MVP award winners on his way to the Finals. Once he got there, the Heat looked like this juggernaut impossible to beat. Well, that wasn’t a problem for the German big man.
He took care of things, got fuel from Wade and LeBron’s mockery and led his squad to an impressive championship, dismantling the Heat that would win the next two championships in three trips to the Finals.
Fortunately, Wade learned the lesson and is trying to teach his son not to do the same.
