In a game played by tall men, Dirk Nowitzki revolutionized the big man position with his shooting prowess and signature one-footed fadeaway.
Nowitzki, the first European player to start in an NBA All-Star Game and garner an NBA MVP, had his #41 jersey retired Wednesday night in an emotional ceremony after the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Golden State Warriors 99-82.
Guests in attendance included NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Coach Jason Kidd and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Cuban, who bought the team in 2000, two years after Nowitzki was drafted, and who became one of Nowitzki’s biggest supporters, unveiled a model of a statue that will immortalize the future Hall of Famer outside American Airlines Arena.
“This is because of who you are, what you’ve done and we always want to recognize greatness,” Cuban said.
Current Mavericks coach and ex-teammate Jason Kidd had one question for Nowitzki as it related to his depleted COVID-19 roster.
“We’re giving out 10 days. You want to come back?” Kidd joked as the crowed roared in approval.
“You’re somebody who’s been a pioneer for international players,” NBA Commissioner Silver said. “So many players on the court tonight grew up watching you. International players used to be something different in this league.”
As NBA Finals MVP Nowitzki led the Mavericks to their first and only NBA Championship in 2011. He is the highest-scoring foreign-born player in NBA history with 31,560 points. Internationally, he captained his German team into the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he was chosen to be the country’s flag bearer. He led the German national team to a tenth-place finish in Beijing, averaging 17.0 points and 8.4 rebounds for the tournament.
With his wife Jessica and their three kids by his side Nowitzki thanked everyone from ex-coaches, teammates and even game-day staff during his storied 21-year career. Emotions were hard to contain during his 20-minute speech,
“I almost made it through without getting emotional,” Nowitzki said moments before the banner-raising finale, “But you guys get me every time.”
Nowitzki joins Brad Davis (#15), Rolando Blackman (#22) and Derek Harper (#12) as the only Mavericks players to have their jerseys hung in the rafters.
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