Wade after last All-Star Game: 'This one was special'

For the 13th and final time, Dwyane Wade suited up as an All-Star.

The Heat veteran reflected on his final weekend enjoying the festivities as a player, during which he and Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki were honored with a framed All-Star jersey to commemorate their retirement at the end of the season.

"That was the moment where I realized that this was the last one," Wade said, via the Miami Herald. "Obviously going through the whole process, you’re going through everything. But at that moment, being out there on that stage and sitting next to Dirk, I realized that this was it and I was thankful for that moment. The NBA, I’m thankful for everything they did for myself and Dirk to even be here, to be in this environment with the game’s greats. We had fun."

RELATED | Nowitzki and Wade have still got it – takeaways from NBA All-Star Game

Wade finished Sunday's game with seven points, two rebounds and four assists in just over 10 minutes of playing time, but the highlight for the 37-year-old veteran was throwing one last lob to friend and former teammate LeBron James.

"This one was special," Wade said. "I’m just thankful for the NBA for making sure to accommodate everything I wanted and things that I didn’t even think I needed or wanted and they provided it. My team did an amazing job, my family. I couldn’t ask for anything more out of this weekend. It definitely was my most enjoyable. People like to say, what’s your most enjoyable? This one will take place now as my most memorable, most enjoyable All-Star."

RELATED | All-Star MVP Durant: 'I'll try to keep racking them up'

Team LeBron didn't get off to a great start, but came back to claim a 178-164 victory over Team Giannis in the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.