Wade, Nowitzki named special roster additions for All-Star Game

NEW YORK — Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade have been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as special team roster additions for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In honor of their extraordinary contributions as iconic NBA champions and beloved ambassadors and in recognition of their All-Star careers, Nowitzki and Wade will take the court for the 68th NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Spectrum Center.

“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 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 will be selected in a new third round of the 2019 NBA All-Star Draft, adding a 13th player to each active All-Star Game roster. TNT will air the NBA All-Star Draft on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. ET. TNT and ESPN Radio will air the Feb. 17 All-Star Game matchup between Team LeBron and Team Giannis live in the United States at 8 p.m. ET. NBA All-Star 2019 will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.

Team captains LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks will select the 10 All-Star Game starters in the first round, the 14 reserves in the second round and Nowitzki and Wade in the third round. Team LeBron will make the first pick in the first and third rounds and Team Giannis will have the first pick in the second round.

A 13-time NBA All-Star selection before this season, Nowitzki ranks seventh on the NBA’s all-time points list (31,275) and is the career scoring leader among international players. The 7-footer from Germany won the 2006-07 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the first European-born player to earn the honor. He was also named the 2011 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award winner after leading the Mavericks to their first NBA championship.

This season, Nowitzki became the first player to play 21 seasons with the same team and matched the NBA record for most seasons played overall (also 21). With 906 career regular-season victories, Nowitzki is the sixth-winningest player in NBA history. The 12-time All-NBA Team selection has played in the fourth-most regular-season games (1,491).

Nowitzki helped revolutionize the power forward position with his perimeter shooting. He ranks 11th on the NBA’s career list for three-pointers made (1,935) and won the Three-Point Contest at NBA All-Star 2006. He has career averages of 21.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game and stands as the Mavericks’ franchise leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, field goals made, three-pointers made, free throws made and games played.

A two-time winner of the monthly NBA Cares Community Assist Award, Nowitzki hosts an annual celebrity baseball game and tennis event to benefit his Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, which focuses on children’s health and education. In November, he was presented with the Key to the City of Dallas in recognition of his professional achievements and philanthropic work.

Nowitzki received the NBA’s 2016-17 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award for his selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment to team. He served as a captain of Team World at NBA Africa Game 2017 and has participated in two Basketball Without Borders Africa camps.

Wade entered this season as a 12-time NBA All-Star selection, which includes his MVP-winning performance in the 2010 All-Star Game and a triple-double in the 2012 All-Star Game. The 6-4 guard is a three-time NBA champion and a 2008 Olympic gold medalist with USA Basketball. He earned the 2006 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award after leading Miami to its first NBA title.

An eight-time All-NBA Team selection and three-time NBA All-Defensive Team member, Wade has career averages of 22.2 points, 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.55 steals per game in 16 NBA seasons. He joins James and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to record at least 20,000 points, 5,000 assists, 4,000 rebounds, 1,500 steals, 800 blocked shots and 500 three-pointers. Wade, the 2008-09 NBA scoring champion, ranks 30th on the league’s career points list (22,620). The Chicago native is Miami’s franchise leader in points, assists, steals, field goals made, free throws made and games played.

Wade has been honored several times by the NBA for his dedication to community outreach, most recently receiving the March 2018 NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his support of students and the Parkland, Fla., community after the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He was honored with the 2012-13 Seasonlong NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his Wade’s World Foundation’s efforts to support community-based organizations that promote education, health and social skills for at-risk children.

In 2016, Wade promoted social activism during an appearance at the ESPYs and hosted a bike ride alongside Miami policy officers to spread the message of unity. Last year, Wade served as a global ambassador for the inaugural Jr. NBA Global Championship. He hosts an annual youth basketball camp each summer in South Florida.