Inside The Heat

Dwyane Wade Pays His Respects to Rival Dirk Nowitzki

Dwyane Wade gives thoughts in the wake of Dirk Nowitzki's jersey retirement

Shandel Richardson

Dwyane Wade Pays His Respects to Rival Dirk Nowitzki
Dwyane Wade Pays His Respects to Rival Dirk Nowitzki /
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In so many ways, they were linked. 

Former Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade an ex-Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki retired in the same season. They also faced each other twice in the NBA Finals. 

With Nowitzki getting his jersey retired Wednesday in Dallas, Wade used it as the perfect opportunity to show his respect. Wade spoke highly of Nowitzki during an interview with NBA.com.

“Playing each other twice in an NBA championship, you’re going to walk away with some scars,” Wade said. “You’re going to walk away with a healthy version of dislike, and a healthy version of how much you respect, and how much love you can have for a competitor. I love Dirk, (as far as) the career he had.”

Wade and Nowitzki met in the Finals in 2006 and 2011, with each splitting the series. In his third year, Wade led the Heat past the Mavericks for the first championship in franchise history in 2006. Nowitzki then helped the Mavericks stun the Big Three (LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Wade) in the 2011 Finals. 

Even though at times Wade and Nowitzki didn't get along when competing, there was still a mutual respect. In 2011, Wade and James were accused of mocking Nowitzki after he said he was sick during the Finals. Wade has since moved past that and would enjoy if they joined the Hall of Fame the same season. 

"The way (Dirk) did it, the route to get there … that (2011 championship) was special,” Wade said. 

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star.  TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

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