Kobe Bryant told Dwyane Wade he was retiring while using Heat’s cold tub

Kobe Bryant told Dwyane Wade he was retiring while stealing the Heat’s cold tub

The news that Kobe Bryant is retiring is still processing in the mind’s of NBA fans, but for Dwyane Wade the wheels have been turning a little long.

Apparently the Los Angeles Lakers star told the face of the Miami Heat franchise that he was retiring well before the he revealed it to the rest of the world.

Wade recounted the tale to Rachel Nichol, who shared it with the world on social media:

"Way too long for 140 characters, but here’s the Kobe story Dwyane Wade told me: This was last month, the night before the Heat hosted the Lakers here in Miami. Wade decided to stop by the arena and get in a soak in the cold tub.He goes through the Heat’s locker room area, back over to the training room, and who is already just sitting there in the tub…Kobe Bryant. Wade told me in the 13 years he’s played for the Heat, he’s never ever seen Pat Riley let an opposing player into the inner sanctum like that, using the team’s facilities, and that frankly, he was shocked. Of course, that’s the respect that Kobe has earned, and the two old friends had a great, long talk.At the end of it, Kobe asked Dwyane if his sons were coming to the game the next night. Dwyane said no, as it was a school night, and Kobe said, ‘you know what, bring them, I think it’s going to be my last time here.’ Dwyane brought the boys, they got a lifetime memory after the game taking pictures with Kobe, and the Wade family got a little sneak-preview of Kobe’s retirement announcement before anyone else."

Everything about this story is simply incredible. Kobe Bryant disregarding the sanctity of another team’s private facilities to once again go above and beyond to prepare himself for action.

It also adds a little bit of context to this moment.

Kobe Bryant used that moment to encourage Dwyane Wade’s son to shoot the ball more often.