Dirk Werner Nowitzki is a retired professional basketball player renowned for his exceptional career with the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.
Drafted ninth overall in 1998, he played 21 seasons, leading the Mavericks to their first NBA Championship in 2011 and earning the Finals MVP award.
A versatile forward standing 7 feet tall, Nowitzki is celebrated for his unique one-legged fadeaway shot and is regarded as one of the greatest foreign-born players in NBA history.
He scored a total of 31,560 points, ranking sixth all-time at his retirement in 2019.
Siblings
Dirk has one sibling, an older sister named Silke Nowitzki.
Silke is also a former professional basketball player and has been involved in various roles within the NBA, including working in international television.
Their athletic background is influenced by their parents; their mother, Helga, was a professional basketball player, while their father, Jörg, played handball at a high level.
Early career
Nowitzki began his basketball journey in Germany, where he played for DJK Würzburg.
He started at a young age, influenced by his parents’ athletic backgrounds—his mother was a professional basketball player, and his father played handball at a high level.
Nowitzki joined DJK Würzburg as a teenager, making his professional debut in the German second division at just 16 years old.
His impressive performances quickly garnered attention, particularly during the 1998 Nike Hoop Summit, where he showcased his skills against American high school stars.
This exposure led to numerous college scholarship offers, but instead of pursuing college basketball, Nowitzki declared for the NBA draft.
NBA career
In the 1998 NBA Draft, Nowitzki was selected ninth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks.
However, shortly after being drafted, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Robert Traylor.
He had a solid rookie season, averaging 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, and his unique skill set as a 7-footer who could shoot from long range began to emerge.
As his career progressed, Nowitzki became a dominant force in the NBA.
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He was selected to the All-Star Game 14 times between 2002 and 2014 and won the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 2007, becoming the first European player to achieve this honor.
During that season, he averaged an impressive 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
The pinnacle of Nowitzki’s career came in the 2011 NBA Finals when the Mavericks faced off against the Miami Heat.
Despite being down 2-1 in the series, Nowitzki led Dallas to four consecutive victories, securing the franchise’s first NBA Championship.
His outstanding performance throughout the series earned him the Finals MVP award as he averaged 26 points per game.
Nowitzki retired after the 2018-2019 season as one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history.
He finished his illustrious career as the sixth all-time leading scorer in NBA history with a total of 31,560 points.
Since retiring, Nowitzki has remained active in basketball through various roles, including community engagement and involvement with the Mavericks organization.
His journey from Germany to becoming an NBA legend is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and unique skill set that revolutionized how big men play in basketball today.
Accolades
Nowitzki’s accolades reflect his remarkable impact on basketball, both in the NBA and internationally.
He is a 14-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Team 12 times, including four selections to the First Team.
In 2007, he won the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, becoming the first European player to achieve this honor.
His crowning achievement came in 2011 when he led the Dallas Mavericks to their first NBA Championship and was named Finals MVP for his outstanding performance throughout the series.
Nowitzki’s career scoring total of 31,560 points makes him the highest-scoring foreign-born player in NBA history and places him sixth on the all-time scoring list.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023 and was also selected for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
Internationally, Nowitzki led Germany to a bronze medal at the 2002 FIBA World Championship and a silver medal at EuroBasket 2005, where he was named MVP of both tournaments.
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