The 'old back-in-my-day post.
Kobe Bryant got a send off. Dwayne Wade got a send off. Plenty of old golfers are appreciated. James will get a send off. Curry will get a send off. Almost any high level player who gets to choose when they leave (and announce it a year before) will get a send off. Fans appreciate talent even if they hated them when they were at the top of their game. "Class act" is in the eye of the beholder.