Kyrie Irving Gives Dirk Nowitzki His Flowers: “The Respect And Love That I Have For Him Is Unconditional”

Kyrie Irving was full of praise for Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki.

4 Min Read

Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Kyrie Irving opened up on the impact of Dirk Nowitzki on the Dallas Mavericks, showering the German legend with praise for all his accomplishments in Dallas.

“For Dallas, he created a culture of championship winning, MVP-like performances, a lot of game-winners, playing with a lot of legends in the league… Although it’s just one championship, a lot of franchises can’t say they’ve won it, so that means something in the basketball culture world and the sports world.”  

Irving referred to himself as a little brother in comparison to Nowitzki, stressing how positively Dirk continues to impact the franchise and players like Luka Doncic.

“The respect I have for him as a peer and a little brother, right? I look at Dirk as someone who I can always go to if I need some resources or advice. Just hearing about the quality human being he is and how much he influences Luka and other guys that have come in through here… The respect and the love that I have for him is unconditional.”

Irving and Nowitzki competed against each other for years, with Irving being drafted into the NBA the summer after the Mavericks 2011 championship. Given how important Dirk is to the Mavericks organization, it’s no surprise to see Irving embrace the legend that nobody has bad things to say about.

In his 21-year career with the Mavericks, Nowitzki won one title, one Finals MVP, one regular-season MVP, 14 All-Star appearances, and 12 All-NBA selections. He is easily the greatest player in the history of the Mavericks organization, but his status could be under threat.


Could Luka Doncic Surpass Dirk Nowitzki As The Greatest Maverick Of All Time?

It’s no secret that Luka Doncic’s career is on the kind of pace that could lead to him being remembered as one of the greatest players of all time if he can have ample championship success. 

Mavericks’ minority owner Mark Cuban recently discussed the possibility of Luka surpassing Dirk as the greatest Maverick of all time, saying Luka is on-pace to surpass Dirk and that even Nowitzki thinks Luka is a better player than him.

“Yes. No disrespect to Dirk, he knows I love him to death. Dirty and I go way, way back, but Dirk will be the first one to tell you that Luka is better.”

Luka is in his sixth NBA season and has some staggering individual accomplishments to his name. He’s bound to be named to his fifth-consecutive All-NBA First Team at the end of the season, which will lead to him surpassing Nowitzki in First Team selections. 

Luka does everything outside of rebounding at a higher volume than Dirk, but Doncic can’t be inflated to Dirk’s level until he wins a title in Dallas. The city will always appreciate Nowitzki for not only bringing a title but spending 21 seasons with them, the longest single-team run for any player in league history.

It’s good to know that Dirk is likely rooting for Doncic to shatter the franchise records he set, as that ensures the Mavericks are progressing in the right direction for the future. 

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support. 

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *