NBA stars Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki give emotional farewells in Miami and ...

NBA legends Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki gave their respective farewells in Miami and Dallas last night as both delivered 30-point performances after receiving send-offs from several big names, including Barack Obama, Charles Barkley and Larry Bird. 

Both Wade, the 37-year-old Heat guard, and Nowitzki, the 40-year-old Mavericks power forward, will play on the road in their season finales on Wednesday night, but after being eliminated from playoff contention, Tuesday marked their final games in front of their home fans.

'Whenever you got knocked down, you always showed us how to get back up,' Obama, the former Illinois senator, said to Wade, the Chicago native, in a video tribute that was played during Miami's win over Philadelphia on Tuesday. 'You showed some Chicago spirit in you and you did us proud. So from all of us who are fans of the game, we just want to congratulate you on an extraordinary career.'

Wade's night was memorable for several reasons.

Wade will play his final game on Wednesday night, but Tuesday marked his final performance in front of the Miami Heat faithful

Nowitzki will play in his final game on Wednesday. Tuesday was his final game in Dallas

NBA legends Dwyane Wade (left) and Dirk Nowitzki (right) gave their respective farewells in Miami and Dallas last night as both delivered 30-point performances in victories 

Heat legend Dwyane Wade slipped twice as he tried to make his signature leap onto a courtside table postgame, but he did score 30 points, so his farewell game was a success

Heat legend Dwyane Wade slipped twice as he tried to make his signature leap onto a courtside table postgame, but he did score 30 points, so his farewell game was a success

Dwyane Wade kisses wife, Gabrielle Union, as she holds daughter Kaavia James Union-Wade

Dwyane Wade kisses wife, Gabrielle Union, as she holds daughter Kaavia James Union-Wade

At one point Wade crashed into John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, who were seated in the front row, dousing the famous couple with a beverage. Later Legend claimed to have saved the drink

At one point Wade crashed into John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, who were seated in the front row, dousing the famous couple with a beverage. Later Legend claimed to have saved the drink

All of his children were in Miami for the game. The national anthem was performed by students from Parkland, Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, where Wade had visited following the February 14, 2018 massacre that left 17 dead.  

Fans came early and stayed late, chanting his name. His actress wife Gabrielle Union slapped his backside in recognition of his making a 3-pointer. At one point Wade crashed into John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, who were seated in the front row, dousing the famous couple with a beverage.

Wade also slipped twice as he tried to make his signature leap onto a courtside table postgame, but he did score 30 points in a win, so his farewell game in Miami was an undeniable success.

'It's like everything I've done has led up to this moment,' Wade said. 'It's like, all a body of work, all the injuries, all the surgeries, all the tough times. It led up to this moment. I couldn't have asked for a better ending to my last game in this arena, to my last season.'

Obama, a former Illinois senator, gave a video tribute to Wade: 'You showed some Chicago spirit in you and you did us proud'

Obama, a former Illinois senator, gave a video tribute to Wade: 'You showed some Chicago spirit in you and you did us proud'

After 16 seasons as an NBA player, after three championships, an almost-annual spot in the All-Star Game, a scoring title, three franchises, four children, an Olympic gold medal and 161 teammates, the end is here. He is ready for whatever comes next.

'Hopefully, I created enough for this state, for the city, for the fans here, for the young kids here,' Wade said. 'Hopefully, I can continue to be an inspiration for them, (after) being an individual who wasn't given everything, who the odds were stacked against. Even when I made it to the NBA, still had odds stacked against me. But I continued to believe in myself. I continued to put my head down and worked.'

The work made him a star, and from there he became a legend - celebrated for what he's done on and off the court.

His last game in Miami didn't tip off until 7:50 p.m. Tributes started in the morning.

A Budweiser video showed Wade getting gifts from people - his mother, Jolinda Wade, and others including Andrea Ghersi, the sister of slain teen Joaquin 'Guac' Oliver, who was killed in Parkland - in a nod to the way he's exchanged jerseys with fellow players all season. 

Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas perform the national anthem before a ceremony to celebrate Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who was playing his final home gmae

Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas perform the national anthem before a ceremony to celebrate Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who was playing his final home gmae 

Dwyane Wade crashes into fans on Tuesday, including wife Gabrielle Union

Dwyane Wade crashes into fans on Tuesday, including wife Gabrielle Union

Gatorade aired a video starring Legend , who sang a tribute to Wade's No. 3. Heat President Pat Riley wrote a letter to Wade published in the game program, saying Wade will be loved 'forever and for always.'

Ghersi gave Wade her brother's jersey in the video, which was taped last week. The jersey - No. 3, of course - came with words scrawled in marker: 'Please don't forget my brother.'

There was a pregame series of events inside the arena. Wade addressed the crowd, thanking every teammate - even ones no longer on this season's roster - by name. Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, where the February 14, 2018, massacre left 17 dead, performed the national anthem. It was fitting that the kids from MSD were there; the tragedy touched Wade deeply and Oliver, one of the victims, was buried in a Wade jersey.

Dwyane Wade reacts during Tuesday's game while receiving encouragement from wife Gabrielle Union (right in white)

Dwyane Wade reacts during Tuesday's game while receiving encouragement from wife Gabrielle Union (right in white)

The end of the anthem was drowned out by cheers. Wade's face appeared on the video screens. The fans roared.

'Noooooooo,' Wade said. 'Y'all are not about to make me cry before this game.'

His wife Gabrielle Union-Wade, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, former Heat greats Shaquille

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