Silver: Idea for Dirk's, Wade's All-Star nods came from fan email

The NBA's gesture of naming Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki as special All-Star roster additions originated in a surprising place.

"The suggestion actually came from a fan in an email to me," commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday at his All-Star press conference, according to ASAP Sports. "I get lots of emails as commissioner. People can go to our website and, in essence, email ideas to the commissioner and often complaints. In this case, it was an idea that came from a fan."

The duo boast a combined 37 seasons of NBA experience. Wade announced in September that this campaign will be his last, while Nowitzki hasn't officially announced his retirement yet. However, his declining play this season hasn't been lost on Silver, who was quite candid about the German's inclusion.

"In the case of Dirk Nowitzki, I saw him painfully running up and down the court, and I think it was clear that this was going to be his last season," Silver said. "It just seemed like a wonderful opportunity to honor two greats without taking away an All-Star spot from a player who otherwise was voted from the fans or named by the coaches."

As synonymous with their respective clubs as any players in history, Wade and Nowitzki also met in two NBA Finals, with Wade's Miami Heat winning in 2006 and Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks getting revenge in 2011.