Dwyane Wade faced backlash after a groin kick in 2012: 'Every time I lose my balance, I swing my left leg upward like the Karate Kid to compensate'

Most players want to avoid being seen as a "dirty player." Take Dwyane Wade, for example, who worked hard to shed that label after he kicked then-Charlotte Bobcats guard Ramon Sessions in the groin back in 2012.

After the incident, the Miami Heat superstar took to social media to clear his name, stating there was no intention behind his actions and emphasizing his desire to be a positive role model for his children. However, one journalist from USA Today wasn't buying it. With a touch of sarcasm, he proceeded to call out "The Flash."

"Riiiiiiiiiiiiight. I know that every time I lose my balance, I swing my left leg upward like the Karate Kid to compensate. Try it. Stand on your right foot and lean to your right until you start to fall. Doesn't your other leg kick as if your Sebastian Janikowski (a former NFL player) attempting a 70-yard field goal? Mine does every time!" wrote Chris Chase.

Wade's controversial kick

Just two days after Christmas in 2012, the Heat faced off against the notoriously bad Bobcats in Charlotte. However, the atmosphere was anything but festive.

This became evident with 8:12 left in the fourth quarter when the "Heatles" were on a fast break after a missed layup by the Bobcats. To stop their momentum, Sessions fouled "The Flash." While the foul certainly wasn't the most minor violation, it was actually Wade's reaction that sparked controversy. The Sun-Sentinel later described it as a "unique, albeit subtle response," before adding, "Well, maybe not that subtle."

As the whistle blew for Sessions' foul, video evidence clearly showed Wade's leg kicking up toward his groin. Unsurprisingly, the Bobcats player was furious and expressed his frustration after the game, which ended 105-92 in favor of Miami. He stated that he felt the opposing NBA superstar "did it on purpose."

Was "The Flash" a dirty player?

Wade earned a reputation during his Hall of Fame NBA career that shifted from scrappy competitor to overly aggressive and even dirty player. 

For instance, Rajon Rondo once called out "D-Wade" for his shady actions, which wasn't surprising given that the Heat legend had dislocated his shoulder after a hard foul during Game 3 of the 2011 ECSF.

Unfortunately, there were more moments showing Wade's "bad side." A year before the incident with Sessions, the Chicago native was penalized for a hard flagrant foul on Darren Collison. Dwyane also famously broke Kobe Bryant's nose during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, which led the late Lakers icon to jokingly say, "Bro, I love it. I'll see you in a couple of days."

However, following the Heat-Bobcats game, the league wasn't as lenient with "The Flash" as Kobe had been. Although the 2006 MVP didn't face much scrutiny about the groin kick after the game, then-NBA commissioner David Stern took it seriously and ultimately issued a one-game suspension.