As the 2018-19 NBA season approaches a close, let’s look back at the five best storylines from the season that was
Another NBA season comes to its conclusion and with it came so many interesting narratives to follow along with. This season we saw legends say farewell, new teams rise in strength and rankings, and players up their games to superstar caliber level.
Time to take a look at the five best stories we fans loved watching this past season.
Dirk Nowitzki’s final run and Dwyane Wade’s ‘One Last Dance’
Two NBA future hall-of-famers suited up for the last time this past season and their farewell tours were as cherishable as one would imagine. Dwyane Wade announced prior to the season’s start that this would be the conclusion to his 16-year career. Throughout the year players from all different teams paid their respects to D-Wade by swapping jerseys with him at the end of just about every single one of his games.
Dirk Nowitzki took a quieter route when it came to his final season by announcing his retirement towards the end of the year. Both players were showered in love and admiration from players and fans alike as both Wade and Dirk are two of the league’s all-time best. Each will go down as their teams’ best player of all time (Wade for the Miami Heat and Dirk for the Dallas Mavericks).
It’s hard to not love either of them as they’ve set the example on how a player should go through with his career with no short amount of class, respect, and well-mannered behavior. Personalities aside, both players have incredibly impressive resumes. Each has won and lost to the other in the NBA Finals with Dirk winning one ring and Wade going on to win Three. Dirk was the 2007 MVP and 2011 Finals MVP. Dirk also has a record-setting 21 seasons spent in Dallas and nowhere else. Wade never won NBA MVP, but he was the 2006 Finals MVP, 2009 scoring champion, and 2010 All-Star Game MVP.
Together they have a combined total of 27 All-Star selections and 20 All-NBA nominations. There is no doubt these two will be headed to Springfield very very soon. But as Wade likes to put it: “It’s way bigger than basketball.” Both players have been known to shine both on and off the court, participating in a multitude of charity and philanthropic events helping those less fortunate than they are.
Their off the court work with kids looking up to them is the cherry on top of truly a fantastic all-around experience in the NBA for both of them. Everybody’s going to miss these two come next season but it’s finally time for them to sit down and enjoy retirement.