• Dirk Nowitzki was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
• The 2023 Class featured Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, Tony Parker, and Pau Gasol
• Nowitzki paid respect to the other three NBA legends going into the Hall with him
Dirk Nowitzki was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in the Class of 2023 alongside Dwyane Wade, Pau Gasol, and Tony Parker.
Nowitzki used his speech to honor the three rivals he was going into the Hall of Fame with, given the playoff battles he has had with each of them.
“I am so excited to be a part of this class. Pau, Tony, DWade, I didn’t always like you guys. We competed at the highest level but there was always some appreciation of you guys’ greatness.
"Pau, Tony, DWade, I didn't always like you guys… but there was always some appreciation of your guys' greatness."
Dirk on the #23HoopClass 🗣️
📺: The #23HoopClass Enshrinement is live on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/RPpmihkeqy
— NBA (@NBA) August 13, 2023
Nowitzki averaged 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game for 21 seasons in his career and is the sixth-leading NBA scorer of all time. He more than deserves his induction, given his legendary NBA career and his FIBA success with Germany.
Dirk Nowitzki Has Beaten All Three Of His Hall Of Fame Classmates In The Playoffs
Nowitzki can claim series wins over all three of the players he’s being inducted alongside.
The most famous of those wins is the one over Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in the 2011 Finals. This was revenge for the 2006 Finals loss Nowitzki suffered at the hand of Wade and the Heat. He averaged 24.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game over the two matchups and won Finals MVP in 2011, postponing LeBron James‘ first championship win.
In the 2011 Playoff run, Nowitzki swept Pau Gasol and the Lakers, stopping him and Kobe Bryant from completing a three-peat. Gasol had also been previously swept by Dirk in the 2006 Playoffs in the first round. Dirk is 8-0 in playoff games against Gasol and averaged 28.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game over those wins.
Nowitzki faced Tony Parker in the Playoffs five times in his career. Unfortunately, the German only has a 2-3 series record against Parker and the Spurs. The Mavs’ two wins came in 2006 and 2009. Parker won in 2003, 2010, and 2014. Over the five playoff matchups, Nowitzki averaged 23.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
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