“Kobe Didn’t Play Well” – Dwyane Wade Reveals ‘Real MVP’ of 2010 NBA Finals

Dwyane Wade did not waste any time in dropping the hammer on who he thought was the worthy winner of the 2010 NBA Finals MVP award.

“Kobe Didn’t Play Well” – Dwyane Wade Reveals ‘Real MVP’ of 2010 NBA Finals

Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant (Image by FirstSportz)

After winning the MVP title for the regular season in 2008, Kobe Bryant still had to win the NBA Finals MVP title. During his career, Bryant made seven Finals appearances with the Lakers, but he only took home the trophy twice, in 2009 and 2010. Notably, a former NBA legend made an interesting case on his 2010 NBA Finals MVP trophy.

Paul Pierce won the Finals MVP title and the Celtics won the title in the 2008 Finals, but Bryant received the accolade for the first time in his career in the 2009 campaign. However, a lot of people thought he didn’t deserve the honor the second time he received it. And it should have gone to his teammate, Pau Gasol, instead. The legendary Dwyane Wade of the Heat is one of such individuals.

A lot of people don’t know that, in that Finals, the last Finals that they won, Kobe didn’t play well. Kobe didn’t shoot the ball well; actually, everybody thought Pau Gasol should have been the MVP. That’s how well Pau was playing, and Kobe was playing awful.

Dwyane Wade said

In seven games during the 2010 NBA Finals, Pau Gasol produced 18.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while performing 47.8% from the field on 12.9 attempts. Bryant surely had the numbers on his side between the two.

During that series, Kobe Bryant produced 28.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. He averaged 23.3 attempts per game, almost two times as many as Pau Gasol, and hit 40.5% from the field. Although these figures don’t appear like much on paper, Bryant had trouble throughout three (Game 2, Game 3, and Game 7) of the seven matches.

Nevertheless, the Black Mamba got the Finals MVP award, most likely without merit. Kobe’s image and the feelings he awoke are the subject of a great deal of discussion. Wade explained it simply.

Pau Gasol shared a wholesome gesture towards the late Kobe Bryant via his social media

From 2008 to 2014, Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant played together for the Los Angeles Lakers, and they grew close off the court. The Gasol family has maintained a close relationship with Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, and her three daughters ever since Kobe died tragically in a helicopter in 2020, along with his daughter, Gigi, and seven other passengers.

Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant
Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant (Credits: Silver Screen and Roll)

On June 27th, Gasol took to his socials to celebrate the Lakers’ 2010 NBA Finals win over the Boston Celtics. Gasol posted a wholesome pic alongside Bryant and Vanessa on his Instagram stories and captioned it, “Family for life ❤️.”

Although, sadly, Kobe can’t be here to celebrate the anniversary with his “brother,” Pau, it’s heartwarming to watch his good friend honor his memory and demonstrate how close he is to the Bryant family. This showcases Gasol’s sweet touch towards the Bryants ever since the passing of the great Lakers legend.

A former NBA player opened up on meeting the late Kobe Bryant in a recent podcast

Throughout his career, Kobe Bryant had numerous conflicts with players, including Danilo Gallinari. In 2009, Bryant scored 61 points in Madison Square Garden, defeating the former forward for the New York Knicks. But Gallinari’s relationship with the legendary Los Angeles Lakers extends far beyond their NBA career.

On the Run Your Race Podcast, Gallinari opened up on meeting Bryant in person during the summer of 2008.

Not a lot of people in the states can say my name right and there I hear somebody say ‘Hey Danilo come here,’ In Italian ‘Danilo come here.’ Who’s speaking Italian in Vegas at Team USA practice. I look and it’s Kobe. So he’s walking with the ice on his knees and everything. I’m walking down the stairs and I’m there talking to Kobe. So that was amazing, he gave me shoes. I go back to my room and there is a letter that he wrote for me.

Danilo Gallinari said

Gallinari and other players in the league respect Bryant despite his brutality on the floor. The Lakers guard excelled in both NBA and international competition. Throughout their careers, he and Gallinari faced off against one another on multiple occasions at the Olympic Games.

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