Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame and owner of one of the most devastating moves in NBA history. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers certainly acknowledges this fact. The young Sixers star recently shared the type of impact Nowitzki has had on his career in the NBA:
“When I first started playing basketball, my coach had a tape of Dirk from the past, and that’s where I first saw his fadeaway move,” said Joel Embiid, via George Efkarpides of Eurohoops. When I started playing basketball, that was all I knew, and I loved him for these moves.”
As they say, imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and the fact that Embiid is not shy about sharing how much he idolizes the great Dirk Nowitzki only further adds claim to the German's legacy.
Both Embiid and Nowitzki took part in Sunday night's All-Star Game. Unfortunately, they were both on the losing end as Team Giannis fell to Team LeBron, 178-164, after a very entertaining contest.
Embiid was voted as a starter, but it was a rather mediocre evening for the Sixers big man. He ended his second consecutive All-Star appearance with just 10 points (on 4-of-12 shooting), 12 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block in 23 minutes of action.
For his part, Nowitzki was an honorary selectee to this year's edition of the All-Star Game (along with soon-to-be-retired Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade), and was able to make a four-minute cameo in this one. It was a very efficient four minutes, though, as the 40-year-old made all three of his attempts from deep, ending what could very well be his last ever appearance as an All-Star with nine points and nothing else.
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