DWAYNE Wade of the Miami Heat defends against Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks in one of their previous NBA matches. AFP

MIAMI — Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki and Miami’s Dwyane Wade are both National Basketball Association champions, NBA Finals MVPs and longtime ambassadors for the game of basketball.

And now, one more time, they’re All-Stars.

By special order of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Wade and Nowitzki were added Friday to the pool of players for the All-Star Game that will be played in Charlotte on 17 February. Each team will now have 13 players instead of the customary 12, and LeBron James — one of the captains — will be the one who decides which side Wade and Nowitzki will be joining.

Wade said he reached out to Silver to thank him for the gesture.

“I appreciated my fans for voting for me, but I didn’t want to be put in position to take a roster spot from someone who’s getting their first opportunity to go to the All-Star Game or their second or third,” Wade said. “I’ve had 12 chances at it. For the commissioner to create that opportunity for Dirk and myself, it’s cool. I appreciate it more getting in this way, so I’ll be there.”

Silver, in a statement released by the league, lauded what Nowitzki and Wade have meant to the game.

“Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade embody the best of the NBA: remarkable skill, drive and professionalism as well as a deep devotion to strengthening their communities and growing the game around the world,” Silver said. “As a global celebration of basketball, our All-Star Game is an ideal setting to salute these first-class NBA champions and Finals MVPs.”

Also Friday, Silver announced that Brooklyn’s D’Angelo Russell will make his All-Star debut. Russell will replace injured Indiana star Victor Oladipo.