The NBA used to be dominated by big men. There was Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal. These players dominated the game in the paint, as was customary for a center to stay close to the basket.
- Dirk Nowitzki Becomes A Star In Germany
- The Dallas Mavericks Select The German Sensation
- Dirk’s Magical Playoff Run And Retirement
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Then, in 1998, a big man from Germany entered the league, and in a few short years, he redefined the position to what we know it as today: a big man who can step out and shoot the long ball.
This is the story of one of the greatest players of all time, Dirk Nowitzki.
Dirk Nowitzki Becomes A Star In Germany
Dirk Nowitzki was born on June 19, 1978, in Würzburg, West Germany. Dirk was destined to become a star since his family was naturally gifted in athletics.
Helga Nowitzki, Dirk’s mother, was a professional basketball player, and his father, Jörg-Werner, was a professional handball player. Even Dirk’s sister, Silke Nowitzki, played basketball while also becoming a champion in track and field.
So, you knew Dirk was going to grow up and play some sport at the highest level. That sport would be, of course, basketball.
But first, before trying his hand out at basketball, Dirk played handball and tennis. Not only did Dirk play these sports, but he became quite good actually, especially in tennis.
Dirk was ranked as a junior tennis player in the German youth circuit, but his height led to people making fun of him, and his height led to him picking up basketball at the age of 13. This was the best decision Dirk had made in his life.
Dirk quickly became a star player, and when he was 16, he played for DJK Würzburg, a second-division German professional team. From 1994 to 1998, Dirk played for DJK Würzburg, where his play caught the attention of many people, including people from Nike.
This led to Dirk playing in the Nike “Hoop Heroes Tour” in 1997. There, the German squared off against some of the greatest NBA players of all time in Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Charles Barkley.
Dirk played like a 15-year vet in the “Hoop Heroes Tour,” famously torching his primary defender, Scottie Pippen, for 52 points. This was according to Charles Barkley, who once spoke about Dirk’s performance.
“So Dirk is kicking our a*s,” Barkley explained. “He’s got like 25 at halftime. And me and Michael are like, ‘Scottie, you gotta pick it up a little bit.’ And he says, ‘Man, I’m gonna lock him down in the second half. I’m gonna lock him down in the second half.’ Dirk finished with like 52.”
What makes this even more incredible is the fact a 19-year-old Dirk Nowitzki, not yet in the NBA, destroyed one of the NBA’s greatest defenders ever to play. This wouldn’t be the last time Dirk would showcase his talents on the world’s stage for Nike.
On March 29, 1998, Dirk played in the Nike Hoop Summit, which is an international all-star game sponsored by Nike. In this game, Dirk shone again, scoring 33 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.
At this point, there was no doubt that Dirk was going to eventually play in the NBA. The question was, when would Dirk enter the NBA?
The Dallas Mavericks Select The German Sensation
The 1998 NBA Draft saw the answer to our question of when Dirk Nowitzki would play in the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks selected Dirk with the ninth overall pick, which would ultimately change the franchise’s fortune forever.
Dirk wouldn’t make much of an impact at first, as he struggled to adapt to the pace of the NBA. He was also being played as a power forward, which saw Dirk struggle to guard the bigger and stronger power forwards in the league.
As a rookie, Dirk only played 20.4 minutes per game, and he averaged just 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Dirk would get used to the league, and his averages would rise in his second year, averaging 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 35.8 minutes per game.
This improvement was huge for Dirk, as you could see a change in the big man. The biggest change for Dirk would not necessarily come on the basketball court but off the court.
During the middle of the 1999-2000 season, Dallas Mavericks team owner, Ross Perot Jr., sold the franchise to Mark Cuban, who changed the culture in Dallas. Dirk and his Mavs would continue to improve each year.
In Dirk’s third season, he averaged 21.8 points, and 9.2 rebounds per game, and the Mavs finished with a 53-29 record as Dirk reached the playoffs for the first time in his career.
In his first playoff series, Dirk’s Mavs took on the Utah Jazz, where they’d win the series 3-2 behind Dirk’s 23.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. The Mavs ran into the powerhouse San Antonio Spurs in the second round, where they lost the series 4-1.
Dirk continued to play well, even in the series loss to the Spurs. He averaged 23.0 points and 8.6 rebounds in the series.
This was no fluke, as Dirk would continue to raise the level of his play and baffle defenders with his outside shot and his incredible one-legged fadeaway.
Dirk's one-legged fadeaway is a work of art! #41Forever
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 5, 2022
The team and Dirk seemingly were getting better every year, and in the 2005-06 season, the Mavs won 60 games behind Dirk’s 26.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. In the playoffs, the Mavs stormed their way through the Western Conference, reaching the franchise’s first NBA Finals.
In the Finals, the Mavs took a 2-0 series lead and looked poised to bring the franchise its first title, but then, the Mavs fell apart. The Dallas Mavericks played the Miami Heat, and they had no answer for Dwyane Wade, as he led the Heat to a 4-2 series victory.
The following season, Dirk and his team were looking for revenge, and they had a fantastic season, finishing with a franchise-best 67-15 record. Dirk would win the first and only MVP award of his career in the season by averaging 24.6 points and 8.9 rebounds on 50.2% shooting, 41.6% from three, and 90.4% from the free throw line.
Everyone believed the Mavs and Dirk would make it back to the NBA Finals and possibly win the title. Yes, everyone believed this, except for the “We Believe” Golden State Warriors.
The Dallas Mavericks were the number one seed in the playoffs, but that didn’t stop the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors from catching fire at the right time. For the first time in NBA history, a number one seed team lost to an eighth seed team in a seven-game series; Dallas fell 4-2 to Golden State.
The question that was now going around the NBA world was: Can Dirk Nowitzki lead the Mavs to a championship?
Dirk’s Magical Playoff Run And Retirement
Dirk Nowitzki would quiet all of his doubters four years after his MVP season saw his team collapse in the first round. In the 2011 playoffs, Dirk led the Mavs on one of the greatest playoff runs of all time.
The Dallas Mavericks had a solid season during the 2010-11 campaign, finishing with a 57-25 record. Dirk was solid as usual, scoring 23.0 points per game and adding 7.0 rebounds per game.
The Mavs were an older team at this point, but they had some solid veterans added to the team. This included Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, and Tyson Chandler.
The Mavs weren’t expected to make a deep playoff run, but they defied the odds. Many NBA historians and journalists claim the Mavs 2011 playoff is the greatest of all time, and they may not be wrong.
Dirk first led his Mavs to a 4-2 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in the opening round. Portland was not a bad team, but not the greatest. The real test would come in the second round.
Dirk’s Mavs met up with the back-to-back NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers led by a prime Kobe Bryant. Not only did the Mavs sweep the Lakers 4-0, but Dirk outscored Kobe. Dirk averaged 25.3 points, and Kobe averaged 23.3 points per game.
Yes, Dirk and his team were on fire. In the Conference Finals, the Mavs played the young and hungry Oklahoma City Thunder, who were led by the trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden.
Would the Thunder be too much to handle for the Mavericks? No, not at all. The Mavs won the series 4-1, and Dirk averaged a cool 32.2 points per game, which was more than either Durant, Westbrook, or Harden scored in the series.
The Mavs were back in the Finals for the first time since 2006. And like 2006, they ran into the Miami Heat, who now added LeBron James and Chris Bosh alongside Dwyane Wade.
The Heat were the overwhelming favorites to win the series. They held the home-court advantage, and before the season started, LeBron famously claimed the Heat would win “not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven [championships].”
After the Heat defeated the Mavs 92-84 in Game 1, LeBron looked to be right in his prediction. To make things worse for Dallas, with 3:44 remaining in the fourth quarter, Dirk tore a tendon in his left middle finger.
Despite the injury, Dirk was suited up and ready for Game 2, and good thing he was. Miami was looking poised to take a commanding 2-0 series lead when they led Dallas 88-73 with 6:21 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Wade hit a corner three-pointer to give the Heat 88 points, and after the three, LeBron and Wade celebrated in front of the Mavericks bench while Dallas called for a timeout… This was when Dirk took over, and he never looked back.
Dirk led a historic comeback that had Heat fans nervous and distraught. With 2:45 remaining in the game, Dirk hit a jumper that cut the Heat’s lead to two points.
After Dirk’s jumper, both teams struggled, not scoring for over a minute. Then, LeBron missed a three with 1:07 seconds remaining.
Udonis Haslem followed the miss with a putback, but his shot was blocked from behind. Haslem chased the ball down and threw it back toward his teammates before the ball went out of bounds.
The ball got knocked around and was picked up by the Mavs’ Jason Terry. Dallas had the ball, and they were running on a three-on-one fast break. Shawn Marion caught the ball with Chris Bosh, the lone Heat defender closing in on him.
Marion quickly passed the ball to Dirk, who went by Bosh to finish a layup. With 57.6 seconds remaining in the game, the score was tied at 90.
Wade tried to answer with a dagger three, but he missed with 38.9 seconds remaining. Dirk rebounded the miss, and the Mavericks set up their offense. For Heat fans, the unthinkable happened next. Somehow, Dirk found himself wide open behind the three-point line.
Dirk buried a three-pointer that gave the Mavs a 93-90 lead with 26.7 seconds left in the game. The Heat wasn’t ready to go away quite yet, and they’d prove it on the next play.
The Miami Heat ran the perfect inbound play by having LeBron, the terrific passer he is, be the triggerman. LeBron passed the ball across to the other side of the court to a wide-open Mario Chalmers.
Chalmers drilled the three, and the game was once again tied with 24.5 seconds remaining. Just when it looked like Miami regained momentum, Dirk came to the rescue again.
With 9.8 seconds left in the game, Dirk had the ball in his hands, and he was guarded closely by Chris Bosh. Dirk spun past Bosh like he wasn’t there and finished with a beautiful left-handed layup to give the Mavericks a 95-93 lead.
After Wade missed at the buzzer, the Dallas Mavericks were winners, tying the series at 1-1. The entire basketball world saw one of the greatest single-game performances in NBA Finals history, and it didn’t belong to LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. No, it belonged to Dirk.
Dirk finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists while scoring the Mavs’ last 9 points of the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A1kAqYgXv8
The Mavericks would do the unthinkable and defeat the mighty Heat 4-2 in the series, and Dirk was named the Finals MVP for his incredible play. Dirk averaged 26.0 points and 9.7 rebounds, but his play went far beyond numbers.
It was Dirk’s confidence not to give up in Game 2 that inspired his teammates to raise their level of play. Because of this performance, Dirk was now an NBA Champion, Finals MVP, and a lock for the Hall of Fame once he retired.
Dirk would play eight more seasons in the NBA after winning the title, but he’d never get back to the Finals. Still, Dirk racked up many accolades.
In his 21-year career, Dirk was named a 14x All-Star, and he was a 12x All-NBA Team selection, including a 4x All-NBA First Team selection.
Dirk is currently sixth on the all-time scoring list with 31,560 career points. The big German was a walking bucket; there’s no denying that.
Since Dirk’s retirement, which came after the 2018-19 season, Dirk has kept a low-key lifestyle. He enjoys spending time with his family and playing tennis. He also works as a special advisor for the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas Mavericks fans and basketball fans, in general, no doubt miss Dirk Nowitzki. He revolutionized the game of basketball.
Dirk rightfully has been selected as one of the eligible candidates for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023. There’s no doubt he’ll make the cut.
The Dallas Mavericks retired Dirk’s number 41 in January 2022, and his number 14 retired in September 2022 for his career in the German Basketball Federation. This was a great way to honor Dirk, as he is truly deserving of it.
In Dirk’s last game, vs. the San Antonio Spurs, the Spurs honored Dirk with a touching video. If you don’t mind tearing up a bit, check out the Spurs’ tribute to Dirk, below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRzdabvpM2M
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