Dirk Nowitzki
The 7-foot German who rewrote the rules of the power forward position.
via Wikipedia: Dirk Nowitzki · see source
Dirk Werner Nowitzki is a German former professional basketball player who played his entire 21-year career as a power forward for the Dallas Mavericks. Listed at 7 ft 0 in, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time and is considered by many to be the greatest European player of all time. He led the Germany national team to a bronze medal in the 2002 FIBA World Championship and a silver medal in EuroBasket 2005, and was the leading scorer and MVP in both tournaments. He is the first German men's player to have his number retired, receiving this honor in September 2022.
Quick Facts
- Team
- Dallas Mavericks
- Position
- Special advisor
- League
- NBA
- Born
- 19 June 1978
- Birthplace
- Würzburg, West Germany
- Draft round
- 1
- Draft pick
- 9
- Drafted by
- Milwaukee Bucks
Lore & Background
Born in Würzburg, Germany, Dirk Nowitzki comes from an athletic family: his mother Helga was a professional basketball player and his father Jörg-Werner was a handball player who represented Germany at the highest international level. Nowitzki initially played handball and tennis, becoming a ranked junior tennis player, but turned to basketball after watching the 1992 U.S. Olympic 'Dream Team.' At 15, he joined DJK Würzburg and caught the attention of former German international Holger Geschwindner, who coached him individually.
Geschwindner emphasized shooting and passing, shunned weight training, and encouraged Nowitzki to play music and read literature. After a year, Geschwindner challenged him to decide between being a local hero or training daily to play against the best; Nowitzki chose the latter. Nowitzki was selected as the ninth pick in the 1998 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He led the franchise to 15 NBA playoff appearances, including the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance in 2006 and its only NBA championship in 2011.
Known for his scoring ability, versatility, accurate outside shooting, and trademark one-legged fadeaway jump shot, Nowitzki won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2007 and the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in 2011. He is the only player to ever play for a single NBA franchise for 21 seasons, a 14-time All-Star, and the first European player to start in an All-Star Game and receive the NBA MVP award.
Reader's Guide
Dirk Nowitzki spent his entire 21-year NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019), leading the franchise to 15 NBA playoff appearances (2001–2012; 2014–2016), including the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance in 2006 and its only NBA championship in 2011. Listed at 7 ft 0 in, Nowitzki was known for his scoring ability, versatility, accurate outside shooting, and trademark one-legged fadeaway jump shot. He was played as a power forward by coach Don Nelson, using his shooting skills rather than playing as an inside-scoring center.
His unorthodox training under Holger Geschwindner emphasized shooting and passing exercises while shunning weight training and tactical drills. NBA Champion (2011), NBA Finals MVP (2011), NBA MVP (2007), 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA Team member, first European player to start in an All-Star Game and receive the NBA MVP award. He is the highest-scoring foreign-born player in NBA history and stood sixth on the NBA all-time scoring list after retirement.
In international play, he led Germany to a bronze medal at the 2002 FIBA World Championship and a silver medal at EuroBasket 2005, being MVP and leading scorer in both.
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