- Brendan Haywood said it was a learning experience to play for a championship contender despite being a veteran
- He revealed how Rick Carlisle brutally called him out for not passing to Dirk Nowitzki on a play
- Brendan Haywood said Rick Carlisle is the ‘most real’ Head Coach in the league
Superstars in the game of basketball and in the NBA enjoy a level of importance on the team that isn’t seen in any other team sport. Players like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and even Dirk Nowitzki have always been the first options for their teams.
There are times when role players have clashed with superstars too. But when Brendan Haywood once tried to take a shot instead of passing to Dirk Nowitzki during his stint with the Dallas Mavericks, Rick Carlisle put him in his place.
“When I got on a championship level team where discipline was required, it was like, I realized we was just playing to play,” Haywood said. He then spoke about his time with the Mavericks, saying, “In Dallas, they were like nah.
“I did that one game, Rick Carlisle pulled me to the side like, ‘Yo, show me the play.’ He was like, ‘You see that guy in the corner? That’s 20K points there. Around here, our job is to rebound and block shots. Don’t you ever look off Dirk [Nowitzki] to take your raggedy a** jump hook again.’
“Little offended, my jump hook wasn’t raggedy… Rick is the most real coach. Rick don’t pull no punches. That’s why he’s respected.”
"You see that guy in the corner. That's 20K points there. Your job is to rebound and block shots. Don't you ever look off Dirk [Nowitzki] to take your raggedy ass jump hook again."
Brendan Haywood on what Rick Carlisle once told him 😂
(via @fuboSports)pic.twitter.com/20H2WPUd42
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 28, 2023
Brendan Haywood played with the Dallas Mavericks for two and a half seasons between 2009 and 2012, helping the team win a championship in 2011. He was part of the rotation at the time, averaging 4.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game during that season. It’s easy to see why Carlisle didn’t want him taking shots away from Dirk.
Dirk Nowitzki Used To Talk Trash To His Teammates When They Played Poorly
Dirk Nowitzki has always been seen as a bit of a gentle giant, thanks to his demeanor with the media. He was the opposite on the court though, a fiery competitor who just wanted to win. And while Haywood got blasted by the Head Coach, Dirk himself wasn’t above talking smack to his teammates.
“Nowitzki has long set a self-deprecating tone that shows every newcomer no one is bigger than the team,” an ESPN report revealed. “He is merciless in mocking everyone and happy when people toss insults back. ‘You should learn Chinese because you’ll be in China soon,’ is one of his favorite ways of needling someone after a bad game.”
The Dallas Mavericks got it right in 2010-11 though, winning one of the most impressive NBA championships ever behind Dirk Nowitzki’s brilliance. They beat Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and the LeBron James-led Heatles in that run, and it all happened thanks to their commitment to winning and Nowitzki’s greatness.
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