A pair of NBA veterans will make one last All-Star appearance before retirement, as the league announced today that Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade will be “special team roster additions” for the February 17 game.
“Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade embody the best of the NBA: remarkable skill, drive and professionalism as well as a deep devotion to strengthening their communities and growing the game around the world,” said NBA commisioner Adam Silver. “As a global celebration of basketball, our All-Star Game is an ideal setting to salute these first-class NBA champions and Finals MVPs.”
Nowitzki and Wade won’t be part of the regular draft when LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo choose up sides on February 7. They will be selected in a third round that allows each team to add a 13th player. The remaining eight starters as chosen by the fans will be taken in the first round, with the reserves going in the second round.
This will be the 14th All-Star appearance for Nowitzki, who is in his 21st NBA season, all with the Mavericks. He is the seventh-leading scorer in league history with 31,275 points, has made 12 All-NBA teams and has won both an MVP and Finals MVP award. He hasn’t announced his retirement plans, but there is speculation that this will be his final season.
Wade, who is conducting his “Last Dance” tour around the league, will be headed to the game for the 13th time. He was named All-Star MVP in 2010 and put together a triple-double in 2012. He has won three NBA titles and an Olympic gold medal and was named MVP of the 2006 Finals.
Wade was an eight-time selection to the All-NBA team and made three appearances on the All-Defensive Team. He is the Heat’s career leader in points, assists, steals, field goals made, free throws made and games played.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
That’s nice. Great idea! Adam silver is really good at this job.
And that ladies and gentlemen is why the NBA is the best league around…kudos!
Saw last night someone referring to Porzingas as the Spirit of Nowitzki. Dallas does have 2 of I’m sure the top 10 Russian players of all time. I’d expect Nowitzki to stick around and coach them.
Porzingis is Latvian and Dončič is Slovenian.
In mother Russia, we have saying, “in short time all these places be annexed by us.”
Blagodaryu vas, Comrade Putin. Vive la Dubcek Czech revolution 1968. Glupyy drug
Neither Dirk nor Kristaps are russian if you are referring to them.
Wasn’t saying Dirk was Russian. He’s the best foreign player in NBA history. He is extremely well respected. He’s spent his entire career with Dallas. He has been tutoring Doncic. I’m sure Porzingis having a European background helped Cuban make the trade. Cuban loves Nowitzki. I’m sure he’ll give him whatever he wants to stay and help Doncic and Porzingis. Doncic commented and said Porzingis is a great player and can do everything.
Best foreign player in NBA history? Hakeem Olajuwon says hi.
You do realize neither are from Russia. Nowitzki is from Germany and Porzingas is from Latvia.
Powell and brunson are russian
Either you are trolling or very very confused.
No one is Russian, comrade.
Strange that my comment got deleted bc I said the same thing
Classy move by Adam Silver.
Did Dirk announce?
Do the same thing with Vince Carter in the dunk contest!
Why? I mean how many guys could you do this for beforehand? This is ridiculous they are adding two guys that are averaging 4 and 12 points a game. Just stop.
I agree, this is ridiculous.
Oh, I know! Neither one of those bums has done much of anything in their career, and the all-star game is SO important!
Yes, what hubcap said, stop treating the all-star game like a desperate attempt to attract a larger audience by whatever means necessary and respect it for the hallowed competition of the most watchable and marketable personalities it has always been.
man! I swear this is crazy, shii might as well put anybody else who’s retiring this year in the allstar game (Haslem, Vince Carter if he retire) and any other old dude smh
This is smart… Other leagues should take a page from this. Instead of these guys getting in b/c of the fan vote and not deserving based on stats… they get in based on career achievement.
Good idea. It’s nice, and won’t cause pressure to do the same thing next year because it will be quickly forgotten.
Maybe they did this last year, IDK
Meanwhile The Nba Blackballed Carmelo! Who play for the Good Old USA team. Brought home those Good Old Medals! Long Live Sitting Bull!