Dirk retired with a sense of fulfillment, having won a championship without joining a powerhouse team. Instead, the Mavericks slowly built a strong team until they achieved success. As for CP3, his ego might have played a role in him being ringless, and now that he's declining, retirement may not be far off for him.
He may not be in the discussion of the best players in NBA history, but being a non-American and winning a championship with his team is already a big success for him. Now, it's time for Luka to bring that success as Dirk continues to inspire the Dallas management and its roster. CP3 has just been unlucky. He had his chance when they faced the Bucks in the NBA Finals, but they fell short. After that, his struggles continued, including his last season with the Warriors, where he wasn't so healthy.
And that's why Dirk is present specially in the finals as he might want to inspired Luka and Kyrie to win another ring for Dallas. And we have seen similarities between this two European, and for sure Luka is also taking inspiration from Dirk himself.
As for the case of CP3, not the first time, we have seen a lot of great players not winning a ring, like Charles Barkley and yet they are still in the discussion as great players. Perhaps the closest that CP3 could have won is with the Rockets, but he got injured and so they lost that series against the Warriors and then the Dubs winning that champion that year. They still have a chance next year, but it was a disaster for them.
I agree, CP3 and James Harden had a great run with the Rockets, and if it weren’t for CP3’s injury, they might have advanced to the NBA Finals. That was when CP3 was still highly regarded, and he definitely elevated the Rockets' performance.
Harden, during that time, was exceptional at drawing fouls, but as the rules changed, his effectiveness dropped. Now, as both are past their primes, it seems like CP3’s best option is to join a championship-caliber team. Even if he won't play big minutes, it would still increase his chances of finally winning a ring.