In the first returns for this year's NBA All-Star voting, Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade ranked second among guards in the Eastern Conference with 409,156 votes. The response so far has presumably been a toast to the future Hall of Famer's distinguished career, as the 36-year-old is currently averaging a modest 14.1 points and 3.9 assists per game during his final season.
In comparison, Paul Pierce - a fellow future Hall of Famer - didn't garner a similar groundswell of support while playing out his final season with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2016-17.
When pressed by Michelle Beadle on "NBA Countdown" Friday night whether that fact bothered him, Pierce offered a blunt assessment of his candidacy that year - referencing an infamous barb from Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green:
Paul Pierce on why he wasnt selected to the All-Star Game in his last season like Kobe and likely Wade: " Thet dont love me like that, remember ?" pic.twitter.com/oJy6kH7zn2
— Heart of NBA (@HeartofNBA) January 5, 2019
Pierce, a 10-time All-Star, probably won't lament missing out on one final, token appearance. Among the 30 Hall of Fame-eligible players with at least 10 career All-Star selections, none have been denied entry to date.
