DALLAS — Of all the opposing jerseys Dwyane Wade has collected through swaps during his final NBA season, Dirk Nowitzki’s was among those the Miami star wanted the most and somehow seemed worried he wouldn’t get.
Maybe it had something to do with the “frosty” phase of their relationship, as the Dallas icon described the strain following the Heat’s six-game win over the Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals. Maybe Wade thought such a display wouldn’t be possible on Dallas owner Mark Cuban’s court.
In reality, Wade didn’t need to worry about Nowitzki turning him down.
The two-time Finals foes are elder statesmen in their league now, a co-existence better defined by sharing honorary All-Star status for the NBA’s biggest party than bitterness over a championship lost to a rival.