Dirk Nowitzki will go down in history as a basketball pioneer. The Dallas Mavericks legend became one of the first NBA superstars to be born and spend most of his pre-NBA career overseas. He revolutionized the power forward spot with his incredible shooting and led the Mavs to a title.
As Nowitzki prepares to get his jersey number retired by Dallas, Michael C. Wright of NBA.com explained what Nowitzki means to his home country of Germany through quotes from other German players around the league.
Franz Wagner explained that Nowitzki's career with the Mavs set a precedent for young players to follow and became a role model for German players.
“The way he did it, I think that’s so Dirk-like,” Franz Wagner added. “And so unique for an NBA player. The way he did it so humble, never kind of forgetting what got him there, I think that’s what Germans can identify with the most. I think that meant a lot for everybody that loves basketball in Germany.”
Maxi Kleber, a native of the same hometown as Nowitzki (Wurzburg) who spent two years with him on the Mavericks, recalls watching Nowitzki lead Dallas to its first championship.
“I remember staying up late with my friends watching [the 2011 NBA Finals],” said Kleber, who was 19 at the time. “The biggest thing for us was when he was doing the parade and the celebration in Wurzburg, we were in the middle of the crowd with everybody else. It was so much fun.”
Moe Wagner (Franz's older brother) and Daniel Theis also explained why Nowitzki was such a hero to them. With so many other European players idolizing Nowitzki, his impact is truly immeasurable. The Mavs will take the first step in honoring the future Hall of Famer tonight.
Follow Us
Subscribe