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{{short description|German basketball player (born 1978)}}
{{Infobox NBA Player
{{redirect|Nowitzki|others with the surname|Nowitzki (surname)}}
{{pp-pc}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Dirk Nowitzki
| name = Dirk Nowitzki
| image = Dirk Nowitzki - 2019202181209 2019-07-21 Champions for Charity - 1829 - B70I1864.jpg
| image = dirk nowitzki cropped.jpg
| caption = Nowitzki in 2019
| image_size =
| team = Dallas Mavericks
| caption =
| position = Special advisor
| league = [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|6|19}}
| birth_place = [[Würzburg]], [[West Germany]]
| height_ft = 7
| height_ft = 7
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 245
| weight_lb = 245
| position = [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]], [[Small forward]], [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|6|19}}
| birth_place = {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Würzburg]], [[Germany]]
| nickname =
| team = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| nationality =
| draft = 9<sup>th</sup> overall
| draft_team = [[Milwaukee Bucks]]
| draft_year = 1998
| draft_year = 1998
| career_start = 1998
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 9
| awards = Six-time [[National Basketball Association All-Star Game|All-Star]]<br/> Seven-time [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA]]<br/> [[2002 FIBA World Championship|2002]] [[Basketball World Championship|World Championships]] MVP<br/> [[EuroBasket 2005|2005]] [[EuroBasket]] MVP<br/> 2006 All-Star [[Three-Point Shootout]] Champion <br /> 2007 [[National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]]
| draft_team = [[Milwaukee Bucks]]
| career_start = 1994
| career_end = 2019
| career_position = [[Power forward]]
| career_number = 41
| years1 = 1994–1998
| team1 = [[DJK Würzburg]]
| years2 = {{nbay|1998|start}}–{{nbay|2018|end}}
| team2 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| highlights =
* [[List of NBA champions|NBA champion]] ([[2011 NBA Finals|2011]])
* [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]] ([[2011 NBA Finals|2011]])
* [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]] ({{nbay|2006|end}})
* 14× [[NBA All-Star]] ({{nasg|2002}}–{{nasg|2012}}, {{nasg|2014}}, {{nasg|2015}}, {{nasg|2019}})
* 4× [[All-NBA First Team]] ({{nbay|2004|end}}–{{nbay|2006|end}}, {{nbay|2008|end}})
* 5× [[All-NBA Second Team]] ({{nbay|2001|end}}, {{nbay|2002|end}}, {{nbay|2007|end}}, {{nbay|2009|end}}, {{nbay|2010|end}})
* 3× [[All-NBA Third Team]] ({{nbay|2000|end}}, {{nbay|2003|end}}, {{nbay|2011|end}})
* [[50–40–90 club]] ({{nbay|2006|end}})
* [[NBA Three-Point Contest]] champion ({{nasg|2006}})
* [[NBA 75th Anniversary Team]]
* No. 41 [[Dallas Mavericks#Retired numbers|retired by Dallas Mavericks]]
* [[Basketball Bundesliga MVP|German Bundesliga MVP]] (1999)
* [[Basketball Bundesliga Top Scorer|German Bundesliga Top Scorer]] (1999)
* [[FIBA Basketball World Cup Most Valuable Player|FIBA World Cup MVP]] ([[2002 FIBA World Championship|2002]])
* [[FIBA EuroBasket MVP]] ([[EuroBasket 2005|2005]])
* [[FIBA EuroBasket 2000–2020 Dream Team|FIBA EuroBasket Dream Team]] (2020)
* 6× [[Euroscar Player of the Year]] (2002–2006, 2011)
* 2× [[FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year Award|FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year]] (2005, 2011)
* [[Mr. Europa|Mister Europa Player of the Year]] (2005)
* [[Silbernes Lorbeerblatt]] (2011)
* [[German Sports Personality of the Year]] (2011)
* [[Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award]] (2020)
* No. 14 retired by [[Germany men's national basketball team#Retired numbers|Germany national team]]
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 31,560 (20.7 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 11,489 (7.5 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| stat3value = 3,651 (2.4 apg)
| HOF_player = dirk-nowitzki
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|GER}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Basketball World Cup|World Cup]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2002 FIBA World Championship|2002 Indianapolis]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[EuroBasket]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[EuroBasket 2005|2005 Serbia and Montenegro]]|}}
}}
}}
'''Dirk Werner Nowitzki''' ({{IPA|de|ˈdɪʁk noˈvɪtski}}, {{Audio|De-Dirk Nowitzki.ogg|audio}}; born June 19, 1978) is a German former professional [[basketball]] player who is a special advisor for the [[Dallas Mavericks]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA).<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 18, 2021|title=Dirk Nowitzki Announced As Special Advisor To The Mavs|url=https://www.mavs.com/dirkadvisor/|access-date=June 18, 2021|website=The Official Home of the Dallas Mavericks|language=en-US|archive-date=July 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703075733/https://www.mavs.com/dirkadvisor/|url-status=live}}</ref> Listed at {{height|ft=7}},<ref name="nbabio">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/dirk_nowitzki/ |title=Dirk Nowitzki stats, details, videos, and news. |publisher=National Basketball Association |access-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-date=November 24, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124150758/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/dirk_nowitzki/ |url-status=live }}</ref> he is widely regarded as one of the greatest [[Power forward (basketball)|power forwards]] of all time and is considered by many to be the greatest European player of all time.{{efn|
'''Dirk Werner Nowitzki''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA pronuncation]]: {{IPA|[no'vɪtski]}}) (born [[June 19]], [[1978]] in [[Würzburg]], [[Germany]]) is a [[Germany|German]] [[basketball]] player for the [[United States]]' [[National Basketball Association]]'s (NBA) [[Dallas Mavericks]]. Standing at {{height|ft=7}}, Nowitzki is an all-purpose [[forward (basketball)|forward]], able to play any position in the frontcourt ([[center (basketball)|center]], [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]], or [[small forward]]).
*{{cite web |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/lists/Top-10-power-forwards-in-NBA-history#tab=photo-title=Dirk+Nowitzki+%25281994-present%2529&photo=30030689 |title=Top 10 power forwards in NBA history |work=Fox Sports |access-date=February 25, 2014 |archive-date=June 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620082558/http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/lists/Top-10-power-forwards-in-NBA-history#tab=photo-title=Dirk+Nowitzki+%25281994-present%2529&photo=30030689 |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarankPFs/ranking-greatest-power-forwards-nba-history |title=All-Time #NBArank: Duncan tops list of best power forwards ever |date=January 15, 2016 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=January 15, 2016 |archive-date=June 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611114137/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarankPFs/ranking-greatest-power-forwards-nba-history |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.latestbasketballnews.com/best-european-basketball-players-of-all-time/ |title=Best European Basketball Players of All Time |date=January 13, 2018 |publisher=latestbasketballnews.com |access-date=December 4, 2022 |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528003702/https://www.latestbasketballnews.com/best-european-basketball-players-of-all-time/ |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/magic/gallery/ranking-50-greatest-european-players-nba-history-20200807|title=Ranking 50 Greatest European Players in NBA History|website=NBA.com|date=May 19, 2021|access-date=February 7, 2022|archive-date=February 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207061759/https://www.nba.com/magic/gallery/ranking-50-greatest-european-players-nba-history-20200807|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |url=https://hoopshype.com/lists/40-greatest-european-players-ever-the-hoopshype-list// |title=40 greatest European players ever: The HoopsHype list |date=January 11, 2022 |publisher=HoopsHype |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111213130/https://hoopshype.com/lists/40-greatest-european-players-ever-the-hoopshype-list/ |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |url=https://basketnews.com/news-163738-greatest-european-basketball-players-of-all-time-from-dirk-nowitzki-to-drazen-petrovic.html |title=Greatest European basketball players of all-time: from Dirk Nowitzki to Drazen Petrovic |date=January 13, 2022 |publisher=Basketnews |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116034857/https://basketnews.com/news-163738-greatest-european-basketball-players-of-all-time-from-dirk-nowitzki-to-drazen-petrovic.html |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |url=https://homeofplaymakers.com/top-25-european-basketball-players-of-all-time/14 |title=Top 25 European Basketball Players Of All-Time |date=January 17, 2022 |publisher=Home of Playmaker |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404204452/https://homeofplaymakers.com/top-25-european-basketball-players-of-all-time/14 |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |last1=Bailey |first1=Andy |title=Ranking the Top 50 NBA Playoff Performers of All Time |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10124068-ranking-the-top-50-nba-playoff-performers-of-all-time |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |access-date=June 22, 2024 |date=June 18, 2024 }}}} In 2021, he was selected to the [[NBA 75th Anniversary Team]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NBA 75th Anniversary Team announced|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-75th-anniversary-team-announced|access-date=October 22, 2021|website=NBA.com|archive-date=October 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020223835/https://www.nba.com/news/nba-75th-anniversary-team-announced|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, Nowitzki was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/dirk-nowitzki-dwyane-wade-headline-naismith-hall-of-fame-class-of-2023|title=Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade headline Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2023|website=NBA.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 1, 2023|accessdate=April 1, 2023|archive-date=April 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402235346/https://www.nba.com/news/dirk-nowitzki-dwyane-wade-headline-naismith-hall-of-fame-class-of-2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nowitzki-gasol-parker-give-international-flavor-to-hall-of-fame-enshrinement|title=Nowitzki, Gasol, Parker give international flavor to Hall of Fame enshrinement|website=NBA.com|agency=Associated Press|date=August 13, 2023|accessdate=August 13, 2023|archive-date=August 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813075721/https://www.nba.com/news/nowitzki-gasol-parker-give-international-flavor-to-hall-of-fame-enshrinement|url-status=live}}</ref>


Nowitzki was selected with the 9th overall pick in the [[1998 NBA Draft]] by the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks for their sixth pick, [[Robert Traylor|Robert "Tractor" Traylor]]. Nowitzki is widely regarded as one of the best players in the NBA today. Although there have been numerous German players in the NBA, in 2006 Nowitzki became just the second [[Germany|German]]-born player (after [[Detlef Schrempf]]) to make it to the [[NBA Finals|Finals]].
An alumnus of the [[DJK Würzburg]] basketball club, Nowitzki was chosen as the ninth pick in the [[1998 NBA draft]] by the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he played his entire 21-year NBA career. Nowitzki led the Mavericks to 15 [[NBA Playoffs|NBA playoff appearances]] ([[2001 NBA Playoffs|2001]]–[[2012 NBA Playoffs|2012]]; [[2014 NBA Playoffs|2014]]–[[2016 NBA Playoffs|2016]]), including the franchise's first [[NBA Finals]] appearance in [[2006 NBA Finals|2006]] and its only NBA championship in [[2011 NBA Finals|2011]]. Known for his scoring ability, versatility, accurate outside shooting, and trademark one-legged [[Fadeaway|fadeaway jump shot]], Nowitzki won the [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award]] in 2007 and the [[NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award]] in 2011.


Nowitzki is the only player ever to [[List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise|play for a single NBA franchise for 21 seasons]]. He is a 14-time [[List of NBA All-Stars|All-Star]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxsports.com/southwest/gallery/who-has-made-the-most-nba-all-star-game-appearances-of-all-time-021519 |title=Who Has Made The Most NBA All-Star Game Appearances of All-Time |work=Fox Sports |date=February 15, 2019 |access-date=February 26, 2019 |archive-date=February 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227060553/https://www.foxsports.com/southwest/gallery/who-has-made-the-most-nba-all-star-game-appearances-of-all-time-021519 |url-status=live }}</ref> a 12-time [[All-NBA]] Team member,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/article215356960.html|title=Mavericks re-sign 13-time all-star Dirk Nowitzki; set to break Kobe Bryant record|last=By|website=star-telegram|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=January 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126164242/https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/article215356960.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the first European player to start in an All-Star Game,<ref name="auto"/> and the first European player to receive the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2871035 Nowitzki is first European to be named MVP], ESPN, May 16, 2007. Retrieved January 6, 2008</ref> Nowitzki is the highest-scoring foreign-born player in NBA history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/2014/news/11/11/dirk-passes-olajuwon-on-scoring-list.ap/|title=Nowitzki highest-scoring player born outside U.S.|website=NBA.com|access-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810182853/http://www.nba.com/2014/news/11/11/dirk-passes-olajuwon-on-scoring-list.ap/|archive-date=August 10, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is the first Maverick voted onto an All-NBA Team<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1748255-ranking-the-best-seasons-of-dirk-nowtizkis-career|title=Ranking the Best Seasons of Dirk Nowitzki's Career|first=Conor|last=Volpe|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=January 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126113851/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1748255-ranking-the-best-seasons-of-dirk-nowtizkis-career|url-status=live}}</ref> and holds several [[Dallas Mavericks all-time roster#Statistics leaders|all-time Mavericks franchise records]].<ref name=nbabio /> On December 10, 2012, he became the first non-American player to receive the [[Naismith Award|Naismith Legacy Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4693126|title=Dirk Nowitzki to get Naismith Legacy Award|publisher=ESPN|date=October 20, 2012|access-date=February 6, 2014|archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723051612/http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4693126|url-status=live}}</ref> Following his retirement, Nowitzki stood sixth on the [[List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders|NBA all-time scoring list]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stats.nba.com/alltime-leaders/|title=All Time Leaders|website=NBA Stats|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=January 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102224949/https://www.nba.com/stats/alltime-leaders/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="points">[https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/pts_career.html Career points leaders] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225112304/http://www.basketball-r/ |date=February 25, 2011 }} Basketball-Reference.com – NBA & ABA Leaders and Records for Points – retrieved October 31, 2019</ref>
In May 2007, Nowitzki became the first European-born player in NBA history to receive the [[National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Award|league's Most Valuable Player award]].<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2871035 Nowitzki is first European to be named MVP], published [[May 16]], [[2007]]</ref>

In international play, Nowitzki led the [[Germany men's national basketball team|Germany national team]] to a bronze medal in the [[2002 FIBA World Championship]] and silver in [[EuroBasket 2005]], and was the leading scorer and [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]] in both tournaments. He is also the first German men's player to have his [[Germany men's national basketball team#Retired numbers|number retired]], receiving this honor in September 2022.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Born in [[Würzburg]], Germany, Dirk Werner Nowitzki comes from an athletic family: his mother Helga Nowitzki (née Bredenbröcker) was a professional basketball player and his father Jörg-Werner was a [[handball]] player who represented [[Germany men's national handball team|Germany]] at the highest international level.<ref name="sauer1220">{{cite book|title=[[Dirk Nowitzki&nbsp;– german wunderkind]]|last2=Reisner|publisher=CoPress Munich|year=2004|isbn=3-7679-0872-7|pages=12–20|last1=Sauer}}<!--|access-date=June 15, 2011--></ref> Helga was a member of the [[Germany women's national basketball team|West Germany national team]] that participated at the [[EuroBasket Women 1966|1966 EuroBasket Women]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1966 West Germany 10 - Helga Nowitzki|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/76690/sid/2279/tid/288/_/1966_European_Championship_for_Women/index.html |website=fiba.basketball |accessdate=2 February 2019}}</ref> His older sister Silke Nowitzki, a local champion in track and field, also became a basketball player and now works for the NBA in International TV.<ref name=nbabio/><ref>Sauer, 30</ref>
A native of [[Würzburg]], Nowitzki came from an athletic family; his father Jörg was a [[team handball|handball]] player, his mother Helen was a member of the German women's national basketball team, and his older sister Silke played basketball in the United States at [[Duquesne University]]. She now works for the NBA in International TV. Nowitzki attended Röntgen Gymnasium (high school), and was sporadically recruited by U.S. colleges as a teenager in Germany, and seriously considered attending [[Villanova University]], but since he was required to do military service in Germany from [[September 1]], [[1997]] to [[June 30]], [[1998]], these plans came to nothing. During his time with the military, he was however allowed to continue playing pro basketball over the weekends.<ref>http://www.pennlive.com/sports/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1149730812248920.xml&coll=1&thispage=5</ref>


Nowitzki was a very tall child; most of the time he stood above his peers by a foot or more.<ref name=sauer1220/> He initially played handball and [[tennis]]. He managed to become a ranked junior tennis player in the German youth circuit, but soon grew tired of being called a "freak" for his height and eventually turned to basketball.<ref>Sauer, 14–17</ref> Watching the [[1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team|1992 U.S. Olympic basketball "Dream Team"]] also caused Nowitzki to gravitate towards basketball.<ref name="crain">{{cite book |last=Crain |first= Zac|author-link= |date= June 2021|title=I See You Big German: Dirk Nowitzki and Dallas |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/I_See_You_Big_German/MNPnDwAAQBAJ?hl=en |location= |publisher= [[Deep Vellum Publishing]]|page= |isbn=9781646050369}}</ref> After joining the local [[DJK Würzburg]], the 15-year-old attracted the attention of former German international basketball player [[Holger Geschwindner]], who spotted his talent immediately and offered to coach him individually two to three times per week. After getting both the approval of Nowitzki and his parents, Geschwindner put his student through an unorthodox training scheme: he emphasized shooting and passing exercises, and shunned weight training and tactical drills, because he felt it was "unnecessary friction".<ref name=Sauer2022>Sauer, 20–22</ref> Furthermore, Geschwindner encouraged Nowitzki to play a musical instrument and read literature to make him a more complete personality.<ref name=Sauer2022/>
He was first noticed by the NBA world when a team of American pro stars, including [[Scottie Pippen]], [[Jason Kidd]], [[Gary Payton]] and [[Charles Barkley]], came to Germany and played an exhibition game against a German national youth team in September 1997. During the game, Nowitzki dunked over Charles Barkley. Barkley saw a future superstar in the gangly German teenager and later admitted to offering to pay him "any amount of money he wanted if he would come to his alma mater, [[Auburn University|Auburn]]."


After a year, the coach was so impressed with Nowitzki's progress that he advised him, "You must now decide whether you want to play against the best in the world or just stay a local hero in Germany. If you choose the latter, we will stop training immediately, because nobody can prevent that anymore. But if you want to play against the best, we have to train on a daily basis." After pondering this lifetime decision for two days, Nowitzki agreed to enter the full-time training schedule, choosing the path to his eventual international career. Geschwindner let him train seven days a week with DJK Würzburg players and future German internationals [[Robert Garrett (basketball)|Robert Garrett]], [[:de:Marvin Willoughby|Marvin Willoughby]], and [[Demond Greene]], and in the summer of 1994, then 16-year-old Nowitzki made the DJK squad.<ref>Sauer, 22–24</ref>
Nowitzki did not truly gain international attention, however, until the March 1998 Nike Hoop Summit in [[San Antonio, Texas]], where he notched 33 points and 14 rebounds to lead a team of international juniors to a surprise victory over a [[United States|U.S.]] junior team.<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=2471369</ref>


==NBA career==
==Professional career==
===DJK Würzburg (1994–1998)===
===Early years===
When Nowitzki joined the team, DJK played in [[German basketball league system|Germany's second-tier level league]], the [[2. Basketball Bundesliga|Second Bundesliga]], South Division. His first trainer was Pit Stahl, who played the tall teenager as an outside-scoring [[forward (basketball)|forward]] rather than an inside-scoring [[center (basketball)|center]] to utilise his shooting skills.<ref>Sauer, 25</ref> In the [[1995 in basketball|1994–95 Second Bundesliga season]], ambitious DJK finished as a disappointing sixth of 12 teams; the rookie Nowitzki was often benched and struggled with bad school grades, which forced him to study rather than work on his game.<ref>Sauer, 26</ref> In the next [[1996 in basketball|1995–96 Second Bundesliga season]], Nowitzki established himself as a starter next to [[Finnish people|Finnish]] star forward Martti Kuisma and soon became a regular double-digit scorer: after German national basketball coach [[Dirk Bauermann]] saw him score 24 [[point (basketball)|points]] in a DJK game, he stated that "Dirk Nowitzki is the greatest German basketball talent of the last 10, maybe 15 years."<ref>Sauer, 30–31</ref>
Chad decided to declare for the [[1998 NBA Draft]] at the age of 20. He had a promise from [[Boston Celtics]] head coach [[Rick Pitino]] that his team would take him with the 10th overall selection. However, one other team was interested in the German prospect: the [[Dallas Mavericks]], and they selected him just one pick earlier. Technically, he was drafted by the [[Milwaukee Bucks]], but the Bucks were selecting for the Mavericks; the two teams had a pre-arranged deal. The Mavericks had likewise selected [[Robert Traylor|Robert "Tractor" Traylor]] for the Bucks with the sixth pick. Even though the two teams were selecting for each other, the Nowitzki-for-Traylor deal has gone down as one of the most infamous and lopsided trades ever. The Mavericks also got the draft rights to nineteenth-overall pick [[Pat Garrity]], but that same draft, Garrity was traded (along with other players and future draft considerations) to the [[Phoenix Suns]] for young [[point guard]] [[Steve Nash]]. On that night, the [[Dallas Mavericks]] acquired two of the pieces on which they would build their franchise for years to come.


In the [[1997 in basketball|1996–97 Second Bundesliga season]], Nowitzki averaged 19.4 points per game and led DJK again to second place after the regular season, but could not help his team gain promotion.<ref>Sauer, 33–38</ref> In the following [[1998 in basketball|1997–98 Second Bundesliga season]], Nowitzki finished his "[[Abitur]]" (German [[A-level]]s), but had to do compulsory military service in the [[Bundeswehr]] which lasted from September 1, 1997, to June 30, 1998;<ref name=nbabio/> The 18-year-old, who had grown to {{convert|6|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on}} tall, made progress, leading DJK to a 36:4-point total (in Germany, a victory gives 2:0 points and a loss 0:2) and ending as leading scorer with 28.2 points per game. In the promotion playoffs, DJK finally broke its hex, finishing at first place with 14:2 points and earning [[promotion and relegation|promotion]] to the next higher league; Nowitzki was voted "German Basketballer of the Year" by the German BASKET magazine.<ref>Sauer, 38–45</ref>
Mavs GM [[Don Nelson]] touted Nowitzki as the sure-fire [[1998-99 NBA season|1998-99]] [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] at the draft, a lofty expectation for a 20-year-old who was in the U.S. for the first time. Dallas fans were understandably upset, then, when Nowitzki looked lost when on the floor in mop-up minutes as a rookie. Determined to prove that he could be a force in the NBA, Nowitzki returned to Germany in the 1999 off-season, working hard on sharpening his total game. The summer of work helped immensely, as Nowitzki emerged as a starter and future star in [[1999-2000 NBA season|1999-2000]], when he averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, finishing second in voting for the league's [[NBA Most Improved Player Award|Most Improved Player]].


Abroad, Nowitzki's progress was noticed. A year later, the teenager participated in the [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] "Hoop Heroes Tour", where he played against NBA stars like [[Charles Barkley]] and [[Scottie Pippen]]. In a 30-minute show match, Nowitzki outplayed Barkley and even [[slam dunk|dunked]] on him, causing the latter to exclaim: "The boy is a genius. If he wants to enter the NBA, he can call me."<ref>Sauer, 39–40</ref> On March 29, 1998, Nowitzki was chosen to play in the [[Nike Hoop Summit]], one of the premier talent watches in U.S. men's basketball. In a match between the U.S. talents and the international talents, Nowitzki scored 33 points on 6-of-12 shooting, 14 [[rebound (basketball)|rebounds]] and 3 [[steal (basketball)|steals]] for the internationals<ref name=nbabio/> and outplayed future US NBA players [[Rashard Lewis]] and [[Al Harrington]]. He impressed with a combination of quickness, ball handling, and shooting range, and from that moment a multitude of European and NBA clubs wanted to recruit him.<ref>Sauer, 42–43</ref>
The following season ([[2000-01 NBA season|2000-01]]), he averaged 21.8 points and 9.2 rebounds and became the first Maverick to be named to the [[All-NBA Team]], making the third team.


===Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019)===
===The All-Star===
====Difficult start (1998–1999)====
In [[2001-02 NBA season|2001-02]], Nowitzki averaged 23.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He made his first appearance in the NBA All-Star Game. He was again selected to the All-NBA team, this time on the second team. In the following summer, he played on the [[Germany national basketball team|German national team]] that finished third at the [[Basketball World Championship|FIBA World Championships]] in [[Indianapolis, Indiana|Indianapolis]] and was named the tournament MVP.
Projected to be the seventh pick in the [[1998 NBA draft]], Nowitzki passed up many college offers and went directly into the NBA as a [[prep-to-pro]] player.<ref name=Sauer47>Sauer, 47</ref> The [[Milwaukee Bucks]] selected Nowitzki with the ninth pick in the draft and traded him to the [[Dallas Mavericks]] in a multi-team deal; future star point guard [[Steve Nash]] came to Dallas in the same trade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thecomeback.com/freezingcoldtakes/nba/1998-nba-draft-flashback-bucks-trade-dirk-to-mavs-for-tractor-traylor-mavs-also-trade-for-steve-nash-many-takes-ensue.html|title=1998 NBA Draft Flashback: Bucks trade Dirk to Mavs for Tractor Traylor, Mavs also trade for Steve Nash, many takes ensue|date=January 5, 2017|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=February 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205003620/http://thecomeback.com/freezingcoldtakes/nba/1998-nba-draft-flashback-bucks-trade-dirk-to-mavs-for-tractor-traylor-mavs-also-trade-for-steve-nash-many-takes-ensue.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Nowitzki and Nash quickly became close friends.<ref name=Sauer4951>Sauer, 49–51</ref> Nowitzki became only the fourth German player in NBA history, following [[Center (basketball)|pivots]] [[Uwe Blab]] and [[Christian Welp]] and All-Star [[swingman]] [[Detlef Schrempf]], who was a 35-year-old veteran of the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] when his young compatriot arrived. Nowitzki finished his DJK career as the only Würzburg player to have ever made the NBA.<ref>[http://www.djk-wuerzburg-basketball.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=152 DJK Basketball: Wir über uns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124003957/http://www.djk-wuerzburg-basketball.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=152 |date=November 24, 2007 }}, djk-wuerzburg-basketball.de. Retrieved March 9, 2008</ref>


In Dallas, Nowitzki joined a franchise which had last made the playoffs in 1990. [[Shooting guard]] [[Michael Finley]] captained the squad, supported by {{convert|7|ft|6|in|m|adj=on}} center [[Shawn Bradley]] (once a number two draft pick) and team scoring leader [[Cedric Ceballos]], an ex-Laker forward. The start of the season was delayed by the [[1998–99 NBA lockout]], which put the entire season in jeopardy. In limbo, Nowitzki returned to DJK Würzburg and played thirteen games before both sides worked out a late compromise deal that resulted in a shortened NBA schedule of only 50 games.<ref>Sauer, 54–59</ref> When the season finally started, Nowitzki struggled. Played as a [[Power forward (basketball)|power forward]] by coach [[Don Nelson]], the 20-year-old felt overpowered by the more athletic NBA forwards, was intimidated by the expectations as a number nine pick, and played bad defense; hecklers taunted him as "Irk Nowitzki", omitting the "D" which stands for "defense" in basketball slang.<ref>Sauer, 59–65</ref> He only averaged 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 20.4 minutes of playing time.<ref name=stats>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nowitdi01.html Dirk Nowitzki Statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010113540/https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nowitdi01.html |date=October 10, 2021 }}, Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved January 6, 2008</ref> Looking back, Nowitzki said: "I was so frustrated I even contemplated going back to Germany.{{nbsp}}... [the jump from Second Bundesliga to the NBA] was like jumping out of an airplane hoping the parachute would somehow open." The Mavericks only won 19 of their 50 games and missed the playoffs.<ref>Sauer, 67</ref>
Before the 2002-03 season, he was named in a survey of NBA general managers as the league's top international player. He met those expectations; he matched his 2001-02 rebound average and increased his scoring average to a career-high 25.1 points. He was again selected to the All-Star Game and the All-NBA second team.


===="Big Three" era (1999–2004)====
He suffered through nagging ankle injuries in [[2003-04 NBA season|2003-04]], but still managed to finish in the top 10 in the NBA in scoring, at 21.8 ppg, and added 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He was again selected for the All-Star Game, and again made the All-NBA team, this time on the third team. Nowitzki was one of the Mavericks' few bright spots in a five-game loss to the [[Sacramento Kings]] in the first round of the 2004 playoffs, averaging 26.6 points and 11.8 rebounds for the series.
=====1999–00 season: Improving as a sophomore=====
On January 4, 2000, team owner [[Ross Perot Jr.]] sold the Mavericks to Internet billionaire [[Mark Cuban]] for $280&nbsp;million. Cuban quickly invested into the Mavericks and restructured the franchise, attending every game at the sidelines, buying the team a $46&nbsp;million [[Boeing 757]] to travel in, and increasing franchise revenues to over $100&nbsp;million. Nowitzki lauded Cuban, stating that he "created the perfect environment{{nbsp}}... we only have to go out and win."<ref>Sauer, 74–75</ref> As a result of Nelson's tutelage, Cuban's improvements and his own progress, Nowitzki significantly improved in his second season. Nowitzki averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 [[assist (basketball)|assists]] per game in 35.8 minutes.<ref name=stats/> He was voted runner-up in the [[NBA Most Improved Player Award]] behind [[Jalen Rose]], and made it into the NBA All-Star Sophomore squad.<ref name=nbabio/> The {{convert|7|ft|0|in|m|adj=on}} Nowitzki also was chosen for the [[Three-Point Contest]], becoming the tallest player ever to participate.<ref name=Sauer77>Sauer, 77</ref> While he improved on an individual level, the Mavericks missed [[2000 NBA Playoffs|the playoffs]] after a mediocre 40–42 season.<ref name=Sauer77/>


=====2000–01 season: First All-NBA and playoff appearances=====
===The franchise player===
In the [[2000–01 NBA season]], Nowitzki further improved his averages, recording 21.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.<ref name=stats/> As a sign of his growing importance, he joined team captain Finley as only one of two Mavericks to play and start in all 82 games, and had 10 games in which he scored at least 30 points.<ref name=nbabio/> Nowitzki became the first Maverick ever to be voted into the [[All-NBA]] squads, making the Third Team.<ref name=nbabio/> In addition, his best friend Nash became a valuable point guard, and with Finley scoring more than ever, pundits took to calling this trio the "Big Three" of the Mavericks.<ref name=Bolavip>{{cite web |url=https://us.bolavip.com/nba/nba-big-three-every-team-best-trio-since-2000-20200804-0002.html |title=NBA 'Big Three': Every team's best trio since 2000 |last=Cova |first=Ernesto |website=bolavip.com |date=May 28, 2021 |access-date=July 29, 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121191731/https://us.bolavip.com/nba/nba-big-three-every-team-best-trio-since-2000-20200804-0002.html |archive-date=November 21, 2020 }}</ref>
[[Image:dirk nowitzki mavs.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Nowitzki (no. 41) has been the face of the Mavericks franchise.]]
Before the [[2004-05 NBA season]], Nowitzki's close friend [[Steve Nash]] left Dallas and returned to the Phoenix Suns as a free agent. Without Nash, many feared Nowitzki's game would falter, but precisely the opposite occurred. Nowitzki would score 26.1 points a game, a career-high, and net 9.7 rebounds. His 1.5 blocks and 3.1 assists were also career numbers. On [[December 2]], [[2004]], Nowitzki scored 53 points in an overtime win against the [[Houston Rockets]], a career best.


Posting a 53–29 record in the regular season,<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/standings/20002001.html 2000–01 Standings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411000024/http://www.nba.com/history/standings/20002001.html |date=April 11, 2016 }}, National Basketball Association/history. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref> the Mavericks reached [[2001 NBA Playoffs|the playoffs]] for the first time since 1990.<ref>[http://nbahoopsonline.com/History/Leagues/NBA/playoffs/teams.html Playoff Appearances] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114022409/http://nbahoopsonline.com/History/Leagues/NBA/playoffs/teams.html |date=January 14, 2008 }}, Nbahoopsonline.com. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref> As the fifth seed, they were paired against the [[2000–01 Utah Jazz season|Utah Jazz]], who were led by point guard [[John Stockton]] and power forward [[Karl Malone]]. The Mavericks won the series in five games, setting up a meeting with their Texas rivals, the [[2000–01 San Antonio Spurs season|San Antonio Spurs]].<ref name=Sauer8990>Sauer, 89–90</ref> The Mavericks lost the first three games of the series, and Nowitzki fell ill with the flu and later lost a tooth after a collision with Spurs guard [[Terry Porter]]. After a Game 4 win, Nowitzki scored 42 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in Game 5, but could not prevent a deciding 105–87 loss.<ref>Sauer, 92</ref>
Nowitzki was voted to the first team All-NBA squad for the [[2004-05 NBA season|2004-05 season]], although the Mavericks were ousted from the playoffs by the Nash-led Suns. That season Nowitzki also placed third in the league's [[MVP]] voting, behind Nash and [[Shaquille O'Neal]]. By being elected to the first team [[All-NBA]], Nowitzki became the first player who did not attend a United States high school or college to be on the All-NBA first team.


=====2001–02 season: First All-Star selection=====
Disappointed in his team's early exit from the playoffs, Nowitzki looked forward to the next season. Teammate [[Michael Finley]] was waived over the summer, and now Nowitzki was the last player remaining from the Mavericks' "Big Three" of Nash, Finley, and himself. He was now the unequivocal leader of the team.
Prior to the [[2001–02 NBA season]], Nowitzki signed a six-year, $90&nbsp;million contract extension, which made him the second-highest-paid German athlete after [[Formula One]] champion [[Michael Schumacher]].<ref>Sauer, 93–94</ref> He continued to improve, averaging 23.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Nowitzki was voted into the All-NBA Second Team and into his first All-Star Game.<ref name=stats/> After making [[2002 NBA Playoffs|the playoffs]] with a 57–25 record,<ref>[http://www.nba.com/history/standings/20012002.html 2001–02 Standings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523144850/http://www.nba.com/history/standings/20012002.html |date=May 23, 2010 }}, National Basketball Association/history. Retrieved January 5, 2008</ref> the Mavericks swept [[Kevin Garnett]] and the [[2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota Timberwolves]] in the first round; Nowitzki averaged 33.3 points per game.<ref>Sauer, 103</ref> In the second round, the Mavericks met the [[2001–02 Sacramento Kings season|Sacramento Kings]] and rival power forward [[Chris Webber]]. After splitting the first two games, Kings coach [[Rick Adelman]] changed his defensive scheme, assigning [[Hedo Türkoğlu]] to cover Nowitzki. Türkoğlu would use his agility to play Nowitzki tightly, and if the taller Maverick tried to post up Türkoğlu, Webber would [[double team]] Nowitzki.<ref name=Sauer104>Sauer, 104</ref> In Game 3 in Dallas, the Mavericks lost, 125–119; Nowitzki scored only 19 points and said: "I simply could not pass Türkoğlu, and if I did, I ran into a double team and committed too many turnovers."<ref name=Sauer104/> In Game 4, Nowitzki missed two potentially game-deciding jump shots, and the Mavericks lost, 115–113, at home. In Game 5, the Mavericks were eliminated, 114–101.<ref>Sauer, 105</ref> However, Nowitzki received a consolation award: the ''[[Gazzetta dello Sport]]'' voted him as "European Basketballer of the Year", his 104 votes lifting him over second-placed [[Dejan Bodiroga]] (54) and Stojakovic (50).<ref>Sauer, 106</ref>


=====2002–03 season: First Western Conference Finals appearance=====
Under the tutelage of coach and former teammate [[Avery Johnson]], who acceded to the head coach position when Don Nelson stepped down late in the 2004-05 season, Nowitzki made strides in his inside game. Long considered as a "soft" jump shooter in the mold of many European players, Nowitzki cut back on his three-point attempts and concentrated on his inside game. He went on to have another career year, with averages of 26.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He improved his shooting percentage, setting personal season records in field goals (48.0%), three-point shots (40.6%) and free throws (90.1%). On [[January 3]], [[2006]], Nowitzki broke a Mavericks franchise record, previously held by Nash, by making his 50th consecutive free throw. On [[January 6]], his record streak ended at 60. During the 2006 All-Star Weekend in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], Nowitzki scored 18 points to defeat [[Seattle SuperSonics]] guard [[Ray Allen]] and [[Washington Wizards]] guard [[Gilbert Arenas]] in the Three-Point Shootout contest.
Before the [[2002–03 NBA season]], Don Nelson and Mark Cuban put more emphasis on defense, specializing in a zone anchored by prolific shotblockers [[Raef LaFrentz]] and [[Shawn Bradley]]. The Mavericks won their first fourteen games, and Finley, Nash and Nowitzki were voted "Western Conference Players of the Month" in November 2002.<ref>Sauer, 108–109</ref> In that season, Nowitzki lifted his averages again, now scoring 25.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.<ref name=stats/> He led the Mavericks to a franchise-high 60–22 record, which earned them the third seed: as a result, the Mavericks had to play sixth seed [[2002–03 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]] in the [[2003 NBA Playoffs]].<ref>Sauer, 112</ref> Now playing in a best-of-seven series instead of the former best-of-five, the Mavericks quickly won the first three games, but then completely lost their rhythm and the next three. In Game 7, Nowitzki hit a clutch three to make it 100–94 with 1:21 left and the Mavericks won 107–95. "This was the most important basket of my career", he later said, "I was not prepared to go on vacation that early."<ref name=Sauer114>Sauer, 114</ref> In the next round, the Mavericks met the Kings again, and the series went seven games. Nowitzki delivered a clutch performance in Game 7; he scored 30 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, and played strong defense, leading the Mavericks to a series-deciding 112–99 win.<ref name=Sauer114/> In the Western Conference Finals, the Mavericks met the Spurs again. In Game 3, Nowitzki went up for a rebound and Spurs guard [[Manu Ginóbili]] collided with his knee, forcing him out of the series. Without their top scorer, the Mavericks ultimately lost in six games.<ref name=Sauer117>Sauer, 117</ref>


=====2003–04 season: Playoff disappointment=====
Perhaps more importantly, under Johnson, a coach nicknamed "The Little General" for his diminutive height and born leadership, Nowitzki learned to lead his team by example, and he paced the Mavericks to a 60-win season. The team finished with the third-best record in the league, behind the defending champion [[San Antonio Spurs]] and defending Eastern Conference champion [[Detroit Pistons]]. As in the [[2004-05 NBA season|2004-05 season]], he finished third in the league's MVP voting, this time behind Nash and [[LeBron James]]. He was again elected to the first team All-NBA squad.
After Dallas traded starting center [[Raef LaFrentz]] to Boston for forward [[Antoine Walker]], Nelson decided to start Nowitzki at center.<ref>Sauer, 118–119</ref> To cope with his more physical role, Nowitzki put on {{convert|20|lb|abbr=on}} of muscle mass over summer, sacrificed part of his agility, and put more emphasis on defense rather than scoring.<ref>Sauer, 119</ref> Nowitzki's averages fell for the first time in his career, dropping to 21.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game,<ref name=stats/> but he still led the Mavericks in scoring, rebounding, steals (1.2 spg) and blocks (1.35 bpg).<ref name=nbabio/> These figures earned him nominations for the All-Star Game and the All-NBA Third Team.<ref name=stats/> Compiling a 52–30 record, the Mavericks met their familiar rivals the [[2003–04 Sacramento Kings season|Sacramento Kings]] in the playoffs once again, but were eliminated in five games.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=240429023 Bibby hits for 36, Nowitzki misses at buzzer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050926002205/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=240429023 |date=September 26, 2005 }}, ESPN. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref>


====Franchise player (2004–2010)====
Nowitzki would confirm his superstar status in earnest during the playoffs as he averaged 27.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. The Mavericks would sweep the [[Memphis Grizzlies]] (in Game 3 he would convert a wild three-point attempt to tie the game and force overtime) and defeat the [[San Antonio Spurs]] in seven grueling games (in Game 7, with the Mavs down by 3, he converted on a three-point play and forced overtime) to advance to the Western Conference Finals, where they would again meet Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. Nowitzki scored 50 points to lead the Mavericks to a victory in the crucial Game 5 with the series tied 2-2; the Mavericks would go on to win in six games and face the [[Miami Heat]] in the [[2006 NBA Finals]]. Of Nowitzki's performance, [[ESPN]] columnist [[Bill Simmons]] would remark, "Dirk is playing at a higher level than any forward since [[Larry Bird|Bird]]."<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060602</ref> However Nowitzki only made 20 of his last 55 shots in the final 3 games as the Mavericks lost the Finals series 4-2 to the Heat after leading 2-0.
[[File:Dirk nowitzki mavs.jpg|thumb|right|Nowitzki (#41) was the face of the Mavericks franchise from 2004 to 2019.]]


=====2004–05 season: First All-NBA First Team selection=====
The Mavericks entered the 2007 Playoffs as the #1 overall seed having compiled a league best 67-15 record. They ended up losing to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in 6 games marking the first time a #8 seed has beaten the #1 in a best of seven series in NBA history. In the clinching Game 6, Nowitzki shot just 2-13 from the field for only 8 points. This series was widely reported as being the greatest upset in NBA History.<ref>http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6772758?print=true</ref> For the series Nowitzki averaged nearly 5 points less than his regular season average and shot 38.3% from the field as compared to 50.2% during the regular season.
Before the [[2004–05 NBA season]], the Mavericks were re-tooled again. Center [[Erick Dampier]] was acquired from the [[Golden State Warriors]] in an eight-player trade.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2004/08/25/dampier-going-to-mavericks-as-part-of-eight-player-trade-with-warriors/dff4d97e-7b9d-454d-887b-0ac537a0af2f/ |title=Dampier Going to Mavericks as Part of Eight-Player Trade With Warriors |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 25, 2004 |access-date=July 29, 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121175144/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2004/08/25/dampier-going-to-mavericks-as-part-of-eight-player-trade-with-warriors/dff4d97e-7b9d-454d-887b-0ac537a0af2f/ |archive-date=January 21, 2019 }}</ref> Also, Nowitzki's close friend and fellow international teammate [[Steve Nash]] left Dallas and returned to the [[Phoenix Suns]] as a [[free agent]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/suns/news/nash_release_040714.html|title=Suns Sign Steve Nash|website=Phoenix Suns|access-date=January 21, 2019|archive-date=January 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121180957/https://www.nba.com/suns/news/nash_release_040714.html|url-status=live}}</ref> going on to win two Most Valuable Player awards with the Suns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2436205|title=Nash wins MVP award for second straight year|date=May 7, 2006|publisher=ESPN|access-date=January 21, 2019|archive-date=January 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115132523/http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2436205|url-status=live}}</ref> During the season, long-time head coach Don Nelson resigned, and his assistant [[Avery Johnson]] took on head coaching duties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2016984|title=Nelson resigns; Avery takes over Mavericks|date=March 19, 2005|publisher=ESPN|access-date=January 21, 2019|archive-date=January 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115132531/http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2016984|url-status=live}}</ref> In the midst of these changes, Nowitzki stepped up his game and averaged 26.1 points a game (a career high) and 9.7 rebounds; and his 1.5 blocks and 3.1 assists were also career-high numbers.<ref name=stats/> On December 2, 2004, Nowitzki scored 53 points in an overtime win against the [[Houston Rockets]], a career best.<ref name=nbabio/> Nowitzki was voted to the All-NBA First Team for the first time.<ref name=stats/> He also placed third in the league's [[Most valuable player|MVP]] voting, behind Nash and [[Shaquille O'Neal]].


However, the Mavericks had a subpar [[2005 NBA Playoffs]] campaign. In the first round, Dallas met [[Houston Rockets]] scoring champion [[Tracy McGrady]] and {{height|ft=7|in=6|}} center [[Yao Ming]]. The Rockets took a 2–0 series lead before the Mavericks won three games in a row. After losing Game 6, Dallas won Game 7 convincingly and won the series even though Nowitzki struggled with his shooting.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/games/20050507/HOUDAL/recap.html Mavericks Cruise Past Rockets in Game 7] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310185201/http://www.nba.com/games/20050507/HOUDAL/recap.html |date=March 10, 2008 }}, National Basketball Association, May 7, 2006. Retrieved January 19, 2008</ref> In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the Mavericks met the Phoenix Suns, the new club of Nash. They split the first four games before the Suns won the last two games. In Game 6, which the Mavericks lost in overtime, Nowitzki was not at his best: he scored 28 points, but also sank only 9 of his 25 field goal attempts<ref>[http://www.nba.com/games/20050520/PHODAL/boxscore.html NBA Western Conference Semi Finals, Game 6, Suns 130 @ Mavericks 126] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822080756/http://www.nba.com/games/20050520/PHODAL/boxscore.html |date=August 22, 2009 }}, National Basketball Association, May 20, 2005. Retrieved January 19, 2008</ref> and missed all five of his shots in overtime.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/games/20050520/PHODAL/recap.html Nash Crashes Mavs' Party; Suns Advance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217232035/http://www.nba.com/games/20050520/PHODAL/recap.html |date=December 17, 2007 }}, National Basketball Association, May 20, 2005. Retrieved January 19, 2008</ref>
Nowitzki, the first European player to become an NBA superstar, is thought by some to be leading a revolution in how the game is played. Helped by rule changes meant to discourage contact and increase scoring in response to flagging interest in the league and the poor performance of American players in international competition, the NBA game has gone from a tough, grinding affair to a more finesse-oriented game, as evidenced by the recent success of teams such as the Mavericks and Suns who place a premium on speed and scoring rather than size and physicality.


=====2005–06 season: First NBA Finals appearance=====
Nowitzki is tied with [[Paul Pierce]] of the [[Boston Celtics]] and [[Zydrunas Ilgauskas]] of the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] for fourth place among active players who have played their entire [[NBA]] career for one team (8 seasons, [[Kobe Bryant]] leads all active players, having played 11 seasons for the [[Los Angeles Lakers]]).
Prior to the [[2005–06 NBA season]], veteran Mavericks captain [[Michael Finley]] was waived,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2135039|title=Amnesty day: Mavs waive Finley|date=August 15, 2005|publisher=ESPN|access-date=January 21, 2019|archive-date=January 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115132600/http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2135039|url-status=live}}</ref> leaving Nowitzki as the last player remaining from the Mavericks' "Big Three" of Nash, Finley, and himself. Nowitzki averaged 26.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists during the season. Not only was this his third 2,000-point season, but his scoring average of 26.6 points was highest ever by a European.<ref name=stats/> He improved his shooting percentage, setting personal season records in [[field goal percentage|field goals]] (48.0%), [[three-pointer|three-point]] shots (40.6%) and [[free throw]]s (90.1%).<ref name=stats/> During the 2006 All-Star Weekend in [[Houston]], Nowitzki scored 18 points to defeat [[Seattle SuperSonics]] guard [[Ray Allen]] and [[Washington Wizards]] guard [[Gilbert Arenas]] in the Three-Point Contest.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/allstar2006/three_point/ Dirk's Daggers Light Up Houston] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321134750/http://www.nba.com/allstar2006/three_point/ |date=March 21, 2010 }}, National Basketball Association. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref>


Nowitzki paced Dallas to a 60-win season. The team finished with the third-best record in the league behind the defending champion [[San Antonio Spurs]] and the defending Eastern Conference champion [[Detroit Pistons]].<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/standings?season=2006 NBA Standings&nbsp;– 2005–2006], ESPN. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref> As in the 2004–05 season, he finished third in the league's MVP voting, this time behind Nash and [[LeBron James]]. He was again elected to the first team All-NBA squad.<ref name=stats/> Nowitzki averaged 27.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in the playoffs.<ref name=stats/> In the opening round, the Mavericks swept the [[Memphis Grizzlies]], 4–0, with Nowitzki making a clutch three-pointer in the closing seconds of Game 3 which tied the game and forced overtime. In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the Mavericks played against the San Antonio Spurs again. After splitting the first six games, the Mavericks took a 20-point lead in Game 7 before Spur [[Manu Ginóbili]] broke a tie at 101 by hitting a 3 with 30 seconds left. On the next play, Nowitzki completed a three-point play, which tied the game at 104. In the end, the Mavericks won, 119–111, and Nowitzki ended the game with 37 points and 15 rebounds.<ref name=damp>[http://www.nba.com/games/20060522/DALSAS/recap.html Nowitzki, Mavericks Outlast and Dethrone Spurs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321160024/http://www.nba.com/games/20060522/DALSAS/recap.html |date=March 21, 2010 }}, National Basketball Association, May 22, 2006. Retrieved January 7, 2007</ref> Nowitzki commented: "I don't know how the ball went in. Manu hit my hand. It was a lucky bounce."<ref name=damp/> The Mavericks advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they again met the Suns. Nowitzki scored a playoff career high 50 points to lead the Mavericks to a victory in the crucial Game 5 with the series tied at 2;<ref>{{cite news |last=Matange |first=Yash |date=June 1, 2020 |title=This Date in NBA History (June 1): Dirk Nowitzki goes off for 50 points in pivotal Game 5 win vs Suns in 2006 Western Conference Finals |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/dallas-mavericks/news/this-date-in-nba-history-june-1-dirk-nowitzki-goes-off-for-playoff-career-high-50-points-in-pivotal-game-5-vs-suns-in-2006-western-conference-finals/1u4hm4t3pxh101sflnqkmliyej |work=[[Sporting News]] |location= |access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref> the Mavericks won the series in six games and faced the [[Miami Heat]] in the [[2006 NBA Finals]]. A content Nowitzki commented: "We've been a good road team all season long, we believed in each other. We went through some ups and downs this season, but the playoffs are all about showing heart and playing together."<ref name=phx2006>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=260603021 Comeback win vaults Mavs into NBA Finals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510004328/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=260603021 |date=May 10, 2007 }}, ESPN. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref> Of Nowitzki's performance, [[ESPN]] columnist [[Bill Simmons]] wrote, "Dirk is playing at a higher level than any forward since [[Larry Bird|[Larry] Bird]]."<ref>Simmons, Bill, [https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060602 "Time to put Dirk in Pantheon"], ESPN. Retrieved January 19, 2008</ref>
On [[May 15]], [[2007]], Nowitzki was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2006-07 season, beating his friend and 2 consecutive NBA MVP winner Steve Nash with more than 100 votes. He also became the first European-born player in NBA history to receive the honor. <ref>[http://www.nba.com/news/dirkmvp_2007.html "Dirk Nowitzki Wins 2006-07 MVP Award"]</ref> However, in the [[2007 NBA Playoffs]], the Mavericks had the first seed, but sensationally were defeated by the 8th seed [[Golden State Warriors]] with 2–4. Nowitzki had a sub-average series, the nadir scoring only 8 points in the decisive Game 6. He described this loss as a low point in his career: "This series, I couldn't put my stamp on it the way I wanted to. That's why I'm very disappointed."<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/news/story?id=2859854</ref>


The Mavericks took an early 2–0 Finals lead, but then gave away a late 15-point lead in a Game 3 loss.<ref name=game3>[http://www.nba.com/games/20060613/DALMIA/playbyplay.html Dallas Mavericks @ Miami Heat, NBA Finals Game 3, Play-by-Play] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321160916/http://www.nba.com/games/20060613/DALMIA/playbyplay.html |date=March 21, 2010 }}, National Basketball Association. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref> Nowitzki only made 20 of his last 55 shots in the final three games as the Mavericks lost the Finals series, 4–2, to the Heat. The German was criticized by ESPN as "clearly{{nbsp}}... not as his best this series" and remarked: "That was a tough loss (in Game 3) and that really changed the whole momentum of the series."<ref name=heat2006>[http://www.nba.com/games/20060620/MIADAL/recap.html Wade Leads Heat to First NBA Championship] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201120130/http://www.nba.com/games/20060620/MIADAL/recap.html |date=December 1, 2010 }}, National Basketball Association. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref>
==Playing style==
Nowitzki is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and is capable of shooting a high percentage from both medium range and beyond the [[three-point field goal|three-point]] line, unusual for a 7-foot forward. His tall frame and [[fadeaway]] jump shots pose difficulties for defenders, and in 2006 and 2007 he shot over 90% at the [[free throw]] line. Nowitzki also has an effective high post game in the NBA, able receive passes near the top of the key and bring the ball down to the low post to score on a turnaround [[jump shot]] or a drive. He was also very effective working the [[pick and roll]] with former teammate, [[Steve Nash]].


=====2006–07 season: NBA MVP and franchise record in wins=====
Nowitzki's defense improved under current Dallas coach [[Avery Johnson]]. Nowitzki notched a career high in blocks on [[January 6]], [[2006]], with 7 against the [[Denver Nuggets]]. Nowitzki is the only player in NBA history to register at least 150 three-point field goals and 100 blocks in a season (he had 151 three-point field goals and 101 blocks in the 2000-01 season).
In the [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07 season]], Nowitzki shot a career-best 50.2% from the field, recorded averages of 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists,<ref name=stats/> and led the Mavericks to a franchise-high 67 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference in the [[2007 NBA Playoffs]].<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/standings?season=2007 NBA Standings&nbsp;– 2006–2007], ESPN. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref> He averaged 50% from the field, 40% for three-pointers, and 90% from the free-throw line, becoming (at the time) only the fifth player in NBA history to join the [[50–40–90 club]]. Nowitzki was touted as the overwhelming favorite for the Most Valuable Player award and was expected to lead the Mavericks to an easy win against the eighth-seed [[Golden State Warriors]], despite the Warriors having won all three regular-season meetings against Dallas. However, the Mavericks ended up losing to the Warriors in six games, marking the first time a No. 8 seed had beaten the No. 1 seed in a best-of-seven series in NBA history.<ref name=warriorshistory>[http://www.nba.com/playoffs2007/series/series_w1s1.html Warriors Make History, Close Out Mavs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210225136/http://www.nba.com/playoffs2007/series/series_w1s1.html |date=February 10, 2011 }}, National Basketball Association. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref> In the clinching Game 6, Nowitzki shot just 2–13 from the field for only eight points.<ref name=warriorshistory/> Defended by [[Stephen Jackson]], Nowitzki averaged nearly five points less than his regular-season average in that series and shot 38.3% from the field as compared to 50.2% during the regular season.<ref name=stats/> He described that loss as a low point in his career: "This series, I couldn't put my stamp on it the way I wanted to. That's why I'm very disappointed."<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2007/news/story?id=2859854 Nowitzki stumbles to 2-for-13 shooting in Game 6], ESPN. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref> In spite of this historic playoffs loss, Nowitzki was named the NBA's regular-season Most Valuable Player and beat his friend and back-to-back NBA MVP Nash with more than 100 votes. He also became the first European player in NBA history to receive the honor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/news/dirkmvp_2007.html |title=Dirk Nowitzki Wins 2006–07 MVP Award |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=May 15, 2007 |access-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315161923/http://www.nba.com/news/dirkmvp_2007.html |archive-date=March 15, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


=====2007–08 season: First triple-double=====
Nowitzki has been compared to [[Boston Celtics]] forward [[Larry Bird]], both being prolific scorers and admired shooters. Both Bird and Nowitzki are rated as three-point contest champions and excellent free-throw shooters. However, Bird's career high season records exceed Nowitzki's in terms of season average per game assists and rebounds.<ref>http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html</ref><ref>http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nowitdi01.html</ref>
[[File:Dirkn.jpg|thumb|Nowitzki, 2008]]
[[File:NowitzkiWizards1.jpg|thumb|Nowitzki shoots his fade-away jump shot in 2008.]]
The [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08 campaign]] saw another first-round playoff exit for Nowitzki and the Mavericks. Despite a mid-season trade that brought veteran NBA All-Star [[Jason Kidd]] to Dallas, the Mavericks finished seventh in a highly competitive Western Conference. Nowitzki averaged 23.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and a career-high 3.5 assists for the season.<ref name=playoff08>[http://www.nba.com/games/20080429/DALNOH/recap.html Paul's Triple-Double Helps Hornets Oust Mavericks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822080812/http://www.nba.com/games/20080429/DALNOH/recap.html |date=August 22, 2009 }}, National Basketball Association, April 29, 2008. Retrieved May 9, 2008</ref> In [[2008 NBA Playoffs|the playoffs]], they faced rising star [[Chris Paul]]'s [[New Orleans Hornets]], and were eliminated in five games.<ref name=playoff08/> The playoff loss led to the firing of Avery Johnson as head coach and the eventual hiring of [[Rick Carlisle]]. The few positive highlights that season for Nowitzki were his first career triple-double against the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] on February 6, 2008, with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists, and on March 8, 2008 (34 points against the [[New Jersey Nets]]), when he surpassed [[Rolando Blackman]] with his 16,644th point to become the Mavericks' all-time career points leader.<ref>Aron, Jaime, [http://www.nba.com/games/20080308/NJNDAL/recap.html "Nets Slapped with Fifth Straight Loss"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822080806/http://www.nba.com/games/20080308/NJNDAL/recap.html |date=August 22, 2009 }}, National Basketball Association, March 8, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2008</ref>


=====2008–09 season: Playoff upset=====
==Awards/achievements==
The [[2008–09 NBA season]] saw Nowitzki finish with averages of 25.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He was fourth in the league in scoring, and garnered his fourth [[All-NBA First Team]] selection. He also made the 2009 All-Star game, his eighth appearance. Nowitzki led Dallas to a tight finish towards the [[2009 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]], finishing 50–32 for the season (6th in the West), after a slow 2–7 start. In the playoffs, the German led Dallas to an upset win over long-time rival San Antonio (the third seed), winning the first-round series, 4–1. The Mavericks, however, fell short against the [[Denver Nuggets]], 4–1, in the second round, with Nowitzki averaging 34.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 4 assists in the series.
*{{main|List of career achievements by Dirk Nowitzki}}


=====2009–10 season: 20,000 points=====
The six-time NBA All-Star and 7-time All-NBA Team member Nowitzki is the first European player to win the [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award]]. In FIBA play, he also was named MVP of the 2002 World Championships and the 2005 European Championships after being top socrer both times and leading Germany two a bronze and a silver medal. He also holds several [[Dallas Mavericks]] all-time records, among them for points in a game (51 in regular time, 53 with overtime), most consecutive free throws made (60). At 7-0, he is also the tallest player ever to win the NBA All-Star Three-Point Shootout.
The Mavericks finished the [[2009–10 NBA season]] as the second seed for the [[2010 NBA Playoffs]]. Notable additions to the squad were multiple All-Stars [[Shawn Marion]] and [[Caron Butler]], with the latter coming in the second half of the season. On January 13, 2010, Nowitzki became the 34th player in NBA history—and the first European—to hit the 20,000-point milestone, while ending the regular season with averages of 25 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1 block. He was selected to the 2010 All-Star Game, his ninth appearance. The Mavericks faced off against San Antonio once more in the first round of the playoffs, but for the third time in four seasons, they failed to progress to the next round. Nowitzki became a free agent after the season, but signed a four-year, $80&nbsp;million deal to remain in Dallas.<ref>Stein, Marc, [https://www.espn.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=5352960 "Advisor: Dirk, Mavs agree to deal"], ESPN, July 4, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2010</ref>

====Championship season (2010–2011)====
[[File:Nowitzki-v-wizards1.jpg|thumb|Nowitzki posting up [[Rashard Lewis]] in 2011]]
Prior to the [[2010–11 NBA season|2010–11]] season, the Mavericks traded for center [[Tyson Chandler]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=5377055|title=Mavs get Chandler from Cats in 5-player deal|date=July 13, 2010|website=ESPN.com|access-date=April 11, 2019|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418033346/http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=5377055|url-status=live}}</ref> Nowitzki was injured in the middle of the season, but finished the regular season with averages of 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Despite missing nine games, Nowitzki was selected to the All-Star Game for the tenth time. The Mavericks defeated Portland in the first round of the playoffs and swept the two-time defending champion Lakers in the Conference Semifinals. In the Conference Finals, they faced the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]] and their All-NBA duo of [[Kevin Durant]] and [[Russell Westbrook]]. In Game 1, Nowitzki scored 48 points and set an NBA record of 24 consecutive free throws made in a game as well as a record for most free throws in a game without a miss. In Game 4, with Dallas leading the series 2–1, Nowitzki scored 40 points to rally his team from a 99–84 fourth-quarter deficit to a 112–105 overtime victory. Dallas won the Western Conference title in Game Five.

In the [[2011 NBA Finals]], Dallas once again faced the Miami Heat, which had acquired All-Stars [[LeBron James]] and [[Chris Bosh]] before the season began. During a Game 1 loss in Miami, Nowitzki tore a tendon in his left middle finger; however, MRIs were negative, and Nowitzki vowed that the injury would not be a factor. In Game 2, he led a Dallas rally from an 88–73 fourth-quarter deficit, making a driving left-handed layup over Bosh to tie the series at 1. Miami took a 2–1 series lead after Nowitzki missed a potential game-tying shot at the end of Game 3. Despite carrying a {{convert|101|°F|°C|abbr=on}} fever in Game 4, he hit the winning basket to tie the series yet again at 2, evoking comparisons to [[Michael Jordan]]'s "Flu Game" against Utah in the [[1997 NBA Finals]]. Dallas went on to win the next two games, with Nowitzki scoring 10 fourth-quarter points in the series-clinching game in Miami. The championship was the first in the history of the franchise.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2011-06-12-mavericks-heat-game-6_N.htm?csp=ipmps Mavericks finish off Heat 4–2 as Dallas wins its first NBA title] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623060823/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2011-06-12-mavericks-heat-game-6_N.htm?csp=ipmps |date=June 23, 2011 }}, ''USA Today'', June 13, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2011</ref> Nowitzki was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/6/12/2220926/dirk-nowitzki-nba-finals-mvp-2011-dallas-mavericks-miami-heat|title=Dirk Nowitzki Named 2011 NBA Finals MVP After Mavericks Beat Heat For Championship|first=Tom|last=Ziller|date=June 12, 2011|website=SBNation.com|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=January 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126113903/https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/6/12/2220926/dirk-nowitzki-nba-finals-mvp-2011-dallas-mavericks-miami-heat|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Post-championship and final years (2011–2019)===
====2011–12 season: Naismith Legacy Award====
As Dallas celebrated their title, the NBA was in a [[2011 NBA lockout|lockout]] that ended on December 8, 2011. The defending champions lost core players, such as [[DeShawn Stevenson]], [[J. J. Barea]], [[Peja Stojaković]], and Tyson Chandler, while adding [[Lamar Odom]], [[Delonte West]], and veteran all-star [[Vince Carter]] in free agency. The Mavericks played only two preseason games, which led to a slow start for Nowitzki. Nowitzki made his 11th straight All-Star game appearance in [[2012 NBA All-Star Game|Orlando]]. Nowitzki led his team in scoring 45 times during the season. Nowitzki's streak of 11 seasons with 1,500 points came to an end after scoring 1,342 in the shortened NBA season. Dallas clinched the seventh spot in the West, and were matched against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the [[2012 NBA Playoffs]]. The Thunder swept the Mavericks in four games.

====2012–13 season: Surgery and missing playoffs====
[[File:Dirk Nowitzki high fives 2013.jpg|thumb|Nowitzki in 2013]]
Before the season, [[Jason Kidd]] and [[Jason Terry]] left the Mavericks in free agency. Nowitzki underwent knee surgery in October 2012 and missed the first 27 games of the season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dwyer|first=Kelly|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dirk-nowitzki-knee-surgery-keep-him-six-weeks-185112566--nba.html|title=Dirk Nowitzki's knee surgery will keep him out six weeks, and it was a long time coming|publisher=Yahoo!|date=October 14, 2011|access-date=January 21, 2013|archive-date=October 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023015559/http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dirk-nowitzki-knee-surgery-keep-him-six-weeks-185112566--nba.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He returned on December 23, 2012, in a game against [[San Antonio Spurs|San Antonio]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4693361/dirk-nowitzki-is-back|title=Dirk Nowitzki is back|date=December 23, 2012|publisher=ESPN|access-date=December 24, 2012|archive-date=December 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228072549/http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4693361/dirk-nowitzki-is-back|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2013, Nowitzki and some of his teammates made a pact not to shave their beards until the team reached .500. They were often called "The Beard Bros."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/2/7/3964862/beard-pact-more-than-fun-and-games |title="Beard Pact" more than fun and games |publisher=Mavs Moneyball |date=February 7, 2013 |access-date=February 25, 2014 |archive-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523102155/http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2013/2/7/3964862/beard-pact-more-than-fun-and-games |url-status=live }}</ref> On April 14, 2013, after a fadeaway jumper in a game against the [[New Orleans Hornets]], Nowitzki became the 17th player in NBA history to score 25,000 points. The Mavs went on to win the game and climbed back to .500 with a 40–40 record, and Nowitzki shaved his beard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20130414/DALNOH/gameinfo.html |title=Mavericks at Hornets – April 14, 2013 – Game Preview, Play by Play, Scores and Recap on |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=April 14, 2013 |access-date=February 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309115602/http://www.nba.com/games/20130414/DALNOH/gameinfo.html |archive-date=March 9, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However the Mavericks missed the playoffs for the first time since Nowitzki's second season, ending their 12-year playoff streak.

====2013–14 season: Magic Johnson Award====
On January 29, 2014, Nowitzki scored his 26,000th point in a 115–117 loss to the Houston Rockets. In 35 minutes of play, he recorded 38 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 assists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/games/20140129/HOUDAL/gameinfo.html |title=Notebook: Rockets 117, Mavericks 115 |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=January 29, 2014 |access-date=February 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301053555/http://www.nba.com/games/20140129/HOUDAL/gameinfo.html |archive-date=March 1, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On March 12, 2014, in a 108–101 victory over the Utah Jazz, Nowitzki finished the game with 31 points and passed [[John Havlicek]] on the NBA scoring list with 26,426 points.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders |title=NBA History – Points Leaders |publisher=ESPN |access-date=March 12, 2014 |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114142958/http://espn.go.com/nba/history/leaders |url-status=live }}</ref> On April 8, 2014, Nowitzki scored his 26,712th point, passing Oscar Robertson to move to the 10th position on the all-time scoring list.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2022376-dirk-nowitzki-passes-oscar-robertson-on-nbas-all-time-scoring-list|title=Dirk Nowitzki Passes Oscar Robertson on NBA's All-Time Scoring List|last=Cavan|first=Jim|website=Bleacher Report|language=en|access-date=May 21, 2019|archive-date=December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211080930/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2022376-dirk-nowitzki-passes-oscar-robertson-on-nbas-all-time-scoring-list|url-status=live}}</ref> Nowitzki led the Mavericks back to the playoffs where they faced their in-state rival [[San Antonio Spurs]] in the first round. Dallas lost the series in seven games, and the Spurs went on to win the [[NBA championship]].

====2014–15 season: 10,000 rebounds====
On July 15, 2014, Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mavs.com/mavericks-re-sign-dirk-nowitzki/ |title=Mavericks Re-sign Dirk Nowitzki – The Official Site of the Dallas Mavericks |website=Mavs.com |date=July 15, 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-date=May 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505143637/https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-re-sign-dirk-nowitzki/ |url-status=live }}</ref> to a reported three-year, $25&nbsp;million contract. He was also reunited with former championship teammate Tyson Chandler, who was traded to Dallas after a three-year stint with New York. However, longtime teammate [[Shawn Marion]] signed with the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] before the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/marion-signing-140909|title=Cavs Sign Forward Shawn Marion|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=September 9, 2014|access-date=September 9, 2014|archive-date=September 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910190104/http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/marion-signing-140909|url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 11, 2014, Nowitzki scored 23 points to surpass [[Hakeem Olajuwon]] as the highest-scoring player born outside the United States, as the Mavericks came from 24 points down to defeat Sacramento, 106–98. Nowitzki hit a jumper from just inside the three-point line early in the fourth quarter to pass Olajuwon at No. 9, and he finished the night at 26,953 career points.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20141111/SACDAL/gameinfo.html|title=Nowitzki, Mavericks rally past Kings 106–98|date=November 11, 2014|publisher=National Basketball Association|access-date=November 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114035144/http://www.nba.com/games/20141111/SACDAL/gameinfo.html|archive-date=November 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2264440-dirk-nowitzki-passes-hakeem-olajuwon-becomes-highest-scoring-foreign-nba-player|title=Dirk Nowitzki Passes Hakeem Olajuwon, Becomes Highest-Scoring Foreign NBA Player|last=Conway|first=Tyler|website=Bleacher Report|language=en|access-date=May 21, 2019|archive-date=December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211080916/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2264440-dirk-nowitzki-passes-hakeem-olajuwon-becomes-highest-scoring-foreign-nba-player|url-status=live}}</ref> Six days later, Nowitzki became the fourth player in NBA history to eclipse 27,000 career points with the same franchise, joining Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20141117/DALCHA/gameinfo.html|title=Mavericks cruise past Hornets 107–80|date=November 17, 2014|publisher=National Basketball Association|access-date=November 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119045510/http://www.nba.com/games/20141117/DALCHA/gameinfo.html|archive-date=November 19, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> On December 26 against the Los Angeles Lakers, Nowitzki passed [[Elvin Hayes]] for eighth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20141226/LALDAL/gameinfo.html|title=Rondo, Nowitzki carry Mavs past Lakers, 102–98|date=December 26, 2014|publisher=National Basketball Association|access-date=December 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228193228/http://www.nba.com/games/20141226/LALDAL/gameinfo.html|archive-date=December 28, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He went on to pass [[Moses Malone]] for seventh place on the NBA's all-time scoring list on January 5, 2015, in a 96–88 overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20150105/DALBKN/gameinfo.html|title=Dirk moves up NBA scoring list, Mavs beat Nets 96–88 in OT|date=January 5, 2015|publisher=National Basketball Association|access-date=January 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107000953/http://www.nba.com/games/20150105/DALBKN/gameinfo.html|archive-date=January 7, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He recorded his 10,000th career rebound on March 24 against the San Antonio Spurs,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20150324/SASDAL/gameinfo.html|title=Ellis has 38 points, Mavericks rally to beat Spurs 101–94|date=March 24, 2015|publisher=National Basketball Association|access-date=March 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324201027/http://www.nba.com/games/20150324/SASDAL/gameinfo.html|archive-date=March 24, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> and scored his 28,000th career point on April 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20150401/DALOKC/gameinfo.html|title=Mavs beat Thunder 135–131 despite Westbrook triple-double|date=April 1, 2015|publisher=National Basketball Association|access-date=April 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202103441/http://www.nba.com/games/20150401/DALOKC/gameinfo.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Mavericks finished the regular season as the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference with a record of 50–32. They faced the [[Houston Rockets]] in the first round of the [[2015 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]] and lost the series in five games.

====2015–16 season: Final playoff appearance====
On November 11, 2015, Nowitzki scored a season-high 31 points in a 118–108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and passed former teammate [[Shawn Marion]] for 15th on the all-time career rebounding list.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mavericks top Clippers 118–108 in Jordan's return to Dallas|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20151111/LACDAL/gameinfo.html|access-date=November 11, 2015|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=November 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112181405/http://www.nba.com/games/20151111/LACDAL/gameinfo.html|archive-date=November 12, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> On December 23, Nowitzki moved past [[Shaquille O'Neal]] into sixth place on the NBA's career scoring list, then made the go-ahead basket with 19.2 seconds left in overtime to help the Mavericks defeat the Brooklyn Nets, 119–118.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nowitzki passes Shaq, helps Mavs pull out OT win over Nets|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20151223/DALBKN/gameinfo.html|access-date=December 23, 2015|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=December 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222072158/http://www.nba.com/games/20151223/DALBKN/gameinfo.html|archive-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Devine|first1=Dan|title=Dirk passes Shaq for 6th place on NBA's all-time scoring list|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dirk-nowitzki-passes-shaquille-o-neal-for-sixth-place-on-nba-s-all-time-scoring-list-020011411.html|publisher=Yahoo!|date=December 23, 2015|access-date=December 23, 2015|archive-date=December 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224022512/http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dirk-nowitzki-passes-shaquille-o-neal-for-sixth-place-on-nba-s-all-time-scoring-list-020011411.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 21, he scored 18 points against the Philadelphia 76ers, becoming the sixth player in NBA history to reach 29,000 career points.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mavericks cruise to 129–103 win over 76ers|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20160221/PHIDAL/gameinfo.html|access-date=February 21, 2016|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=February 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222221102/http://www.nba.com/games/20160221/PHIDAL/gameinfo.html|archive-date=February 22, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> On March 20, he set a new season high with 40 points in a 132–120 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers. His 20th career 40-point game was his first since January 2014, and the first by a 37-year-old since [[Karl Malone]] in 2000–01.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nowitzki, Williams lead Mavericks past Trail Blazers 132–120|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20160320/PORDAL/gameinfo.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033603/http://www.nba.com/games/20160320/PORDAL/gameinfo.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=March 20, 2016|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=March 20, 2016}}</ref>

In Game 4 of the Mavericks' first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nowitzki passed [[Elgin Baylor]] (3,623 points) for 15th on the NBA's career playoff scoring list.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thunder beat Mavericks 119–108 for 3–1 lead in testy series|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20160423/OKCDAL/gameinfo.html|access-date=April 24, 2016|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=April 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425071409/http://www.nba.com/games/20160423/OKCDAL/gameinfo.html|archive-date=April 25, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Mavericks lost the series four games to one.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2016-nba-western-conference-first-round-mavericks-vs-thunder.html|title=2016 NBA Western Conference First Round - Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder|website=Basketball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=May 21, 2019|archive-date=May 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520084946/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2016-nba-western-conference-first-round-mavericks-vs-thunder.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2016–17 season: NBA Teammate of the Year and 30,000 points====
On July 27, 2016, Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mavs.com/mavs-sign-dirk-nowitzki/|title=Mavs re-sign 13-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki|work=Mavs.com|date=July 27, 2016|access-date=July 27, 2016|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006195254/https://www.mavs.com/mavs-sign-dirk-nowitzki/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Nowitzki missed several games early in the season with Achilles tendon problems.<ref name="mavs-clips">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400899670|title=Clippers rout Mavs 124–104 in matchup of best, worst records|publisher=ESPN|date=November 23, 2016|access-date=November 24, 2016|archive-date=November 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124072744/http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400899670|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nowitdi01/gamelog/2017/|title=Dirk Nowitzki 2016–17 Game Log|work=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=November 24, 2016|archive-date=November 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124221527/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nowitdi01/gamelog/2017/|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 7, 2017, in a 122–111 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Nowitzki became the sixth player in NBA history to score 30,000 regular-season points. He also became the first international player to reach the milestone and one of only three to score all 30,000-plus with one team—the others being [[Karl Malone]] (Utah Jazz) and [[Kobe Bryant]] (L.A. Lakers).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400900342|title=Nowitzki tops 30,000 points, Mavs roll past Lakers, 122–111|publisher=ESPN|date=March 7, 2017|access-date=March 8, 2017|archive-date=March 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308140428/http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400900342|url-status=live}}</ref> The Mavericks finished the season with a 33–49 record and missed the NBA Playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2017_standings.html|title=2016-17 NBA Standings|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=March 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317074705/https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2017_standings.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the 2016–17 season, Nowitzki exercised his player option to become a free agent; this move allowed the Mavericks to re-sign him with less money and be able to pursue other free agents.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dirk Nowitzki will reportedly take a massive pay cut to re-sign with Mavericks|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2017/7/6/15930848/dirk-nowitzki-re-signs-mavericks-pay-cut-nba-free-agency-2017|website=SBNation.com|date=July 6, 2017|access-date=October 20, 2017|archive-date=October 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020084206/https://www.sbnation.com/2017/7/6/15930848/dirk-nowitzki-re-signs-mavericks-pay-cut-nba-free-agency-2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2017–18 season: Season-ending surgery====
On July 6, 2017, Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks on a two-year, $10&nbsp;million contract (with a team option on the second year).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-sign-dirk-nowitzki/|title=Mavericks sign Dirk Nowitzki|work=Mavs.com|date=July 6, 2017|access-date=July 6, 2017|archive-date=July 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707054802/https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-sign-dirk-nowitzki/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Zucker|first1=Joseph|title=Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks Agree to 2-Year, $10 Million Contract|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2717877-dirk-nowitzki-mavericks-reportedly-finalizing-2-year-10-million-contract|website=BleacherReport.com|access-date=October 19, 2017|archive-date=October 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020135409/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2717877-dirk-nowitzki-mavericks-reportedly-finalizing-2-year-10-million-contract|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 5, 2018, in a 104–101 loss to the [[2017–18 Los Angeles Clippers season|Los Angeles Clippers]], Nowitzki became the sixth player in NBA history to reach 50,000 career minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400975542|title=Clippers score last 13 points, rally past Mavericks 104–101|publisher=ESPN|date=February 5, 2018|access-date=February 6, 2018|archive-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207010233/http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400975542|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 28, 2018, in a 111–110 overtime loss to the [[2017–18 Oklahoma City Thunder season|Oklahoma City Thunder]], Nowitzki reached 31,000 career points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400975665|title=Westbrook scores 30, Thunder beat Mavericks 111–110 in OT|publisher=ESPN|date=February 28, 2018|access-date=February 28, 2018|archive-date=March 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301225143/http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400975665|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 17, 2018, in a 114–106 loss to the [[2017–18 Brooklyn Nets season|Brooklyn Nets]], Nowitzki played in his 1,463rd game, moving past [[Kevin Garnett]] into fifth place in the NBA career list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400975783|title=Nets blow double-digit lead, still beat Mavs 114–106|publisher=ESPN|date=March 17, 2018|access-date=March 18, 2018|archive-date=March 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318183440/http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400975783|url-status=live}}</ref> He had season-ending ankle surgery on April 5 after appearing in 77 of the first 78 games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sefko|first=Eddie|url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-mavericks/mavericks/2018/04/05/source-dirk-nowitzki-ankle-surgery-will-miss-mavericks-final-games|title=Dirk Nowitzki has ankle surgery, will miss Mavericks' final games|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=April 5, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2018|archive-date=April 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406041036/https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-mavericks/mavericks/2018/04/05/source-dirk-nowitzki-ankle-surgery-will-miss-mavericks-final-games|url-status=live}}</ref> The Mavericks finished the season with a 24–58 record and missed the NBA Playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2018_standings.html|title=2017-18 NBA Standings|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929040451/https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2018_standings.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2018–19 season: Final season====
On July 23, 2018, Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks for the 2018–19 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mavericks sign forward Dirk Nowitzki for NBA-record 21st season with same franchise |url=https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-sign-forward-dirk-nowitzki-for-nba-record-21st-season-with-same-franchise/ |website=mavs.com |date=July 23, 2018 |access-date=July 23, 2018 |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128201948/https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-sign-forward-dirk-nowitzki-for-nba-record-21st-season-with-same-franchise/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Price |first1=Dwaine |title=Nowitzki signs a one-year free agent contract with the Mavericks |url=https://www.mavs.com/nowitzki-signs-a-one-year-free-agent-contract-with-the-mavericks/ |website=mavs.com |date=July 23, 2018 |access-date=July 23, 2018 |archive-date=July 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723212457/https://www.mavs.com/nowitzki-signs-a-one-year-free-agent-contract-with-the-mavericks/ |url-status=live }}</ref> With his season debut on December 13, 2018, he set the NBA record for the most seasons played with the same team (21), breaking a tie with Kobe Bryant, who spent 20 seasons with the Lakers. He also became the fifth player in NBA history to play 21 seasons, tying an NBA record.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dirk Nowitzki finally debuts, not quite up to 'NBA speed' yet|date=December 14, 2018|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/25530966/dirk-nowitzki-dallas-mavericks-makes-debut-record-21st-season|publisher=ESPN|access-date=December 14, 2018|archive-date=December 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214164208/http://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/25530966/dirk-nowitzki-dallas-mavericks-makes-debut-record-21st-season|url-status=live}}</ref> Nowitzki was named to his 14th All-Star game as a special team roster addition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wade, Nowitzki named special roster additions for All-Star Game |url=https://www.nba.com/news/dirk-nowitzki-dwyane-wade-added-all-star-game |website=NBA.com |access-date=January 30, 2023 |date=February 1, 2019 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129231452/https://www.nba.com/news/dirk-nowitzki-dwyane-wade-added-all-star-game |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.12up.com/posts/6286208-nba-adds-dirk-nowitzki-and-dwyane-wade-as-special-roster-additions-to-all-star-game|title=NBA Adds Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade as 'Special Roster Additions' to All-Star Game|date=February 1, 2019|website=12up.com|language=en|access-date=May 21, 2019|archive-date=February 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205123231/https://www.12up.com/posts/6286208-nba-adds-dirk-nowitzki-and-dwyane-wade-as-special-roster-additions-to-all-star-game|url-status=dead}}</ref> On March 18, 2019, Nowitzki became the sixth-highest scoring player of all time, surpassing [[Wilt Chamberlain]]'s 31,419 points in a loss to the [[2018–19 New Orleans Pelicans season|New Orleans Pelicans]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=MacMahon |first1=Tim |title=Dirk passes Wilt as NBA's 6th all-time scorer |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26299674/dirk-passes-wilt-nba-6th-all-scorer/ |publisher=ESPN |date=March 18, 2019 |access-date=March 18, 2019 |archive-date=March 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319121434/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26299674/dirk-passes-wilt-nba-6th-all-scorer |url-status=live }}</ref> In his team's final home game of the season, a 120–109 victory over the [[Phoenix Suns]] on April 9, Nowitzki scored 30 points, and announced his retirement in an emotional ceremony during which [[Charles Barkley]], [[Larry Bird]], [[Shawn Kemp]], [[Scottie Pippen]], and [[Detlef Schrempf]] appeared on the court to give laudatory speeches for Nowitzki.<ref>{{cite web |last1=MacMahon |first1=Tim |title=Dirk stars for Mavs, makes retirement official |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26483580 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=April 10, 2019 |date=April 10, 2019 |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410063454/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26483580 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/47878471|title=NBA: Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki say emotional goodbyes|work=BBC Sport|date=April 10, 2019|access-date=April 11, 2019|archive-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411164348/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/47878471|url-status=live}}</ref> One day later, he played his final NBA game, recording a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 105–94 loss to the Spurs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401071900|title=Spurs beat Mavs 105-94 in Nowitzki's final game|publisher=ESPN|access-date=April 11, 2019|archive-date=July 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719190057/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401071900|url-status=live}}</ref>

==National team career==
[[File:Dirk Nowitzki.jpg|thumb|270px|Nowitzki played for the [[Germany men's national basketball team|German national basketball team]] from 1997 to 2015.]]
Nowitzki began playing for the [[Germany men's national basketball team|German national basketball team]] in 1997. In his debut tournament, the [[EuroBasket 1999]], the 21-year-old rookie emerged as the main German scorer, but Germany finished seventh and failed to qualify for the [[Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2000 Olympic Games]].<ref>Sauer, 122–124</ref> In the [[EuroBasket 2001]], Nowitzki was top scorer with 28.7 points per game, and narrowly lost the MVP vote to Serbian player [[Peja Stojaković]]. Germany reached the semi-finals and were close to beating host nation [[Turkey national basketball team|Turkey]], but [[Hedo Türkoğlu]] hit a three-point [[buzzer beater]] to tie it, and the Turks eventually won in overtime.<ref name=Sauer125129>Sauer, 125–129</ref> Germany then lost, 99–90, against [[Spain national basketball team|Spain]], and did not win a medal. However, with averages of 28.7 points and 9.1 rebounds, Nowitzki led the tournament in both statistics, and was voted to the All-Star team.<ref>[http://www.basket-stats.info/eurobasket/2001/results/dream-team.htm#Statistics 2001 European Dream Team 2001] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226002146/http://www.basket-stats.info/eurobasket/2001/results/dream-team.htm |date=December 26, 2007 }}, Basket-stats.info. Retrieved January 19, 2008</ref> Back home, the German basketball team attracted up to 3.7&nbsp;million television viewers, a German basketball record at the time.<ref name=Sauer125129/>

Nowitzki earned his first medal when he led Germany to a bronze medal in the [[2002 FIBA World Championship]]. In the quarter-finals against the [[Pau Gasol]]-led Spain, Spain was up 52–46 after three-quarters, but then Nowitzki scored 10 points in the last quarter and led Germany to a 70–62 win.<ref name=Sauer129140>Sauer, 129–140</ref> In the semi-finals, his team played against the [[Argentina national basketball team|Argentinian]] team led by [[Manu Ginóbili]], but despite leading, 74–69, four minutes from the end and despite Argentina losing Ginobili to a foot injury, the South Americans won, 86–80.<ref name=Sauer129140/> However, the Germans won 117–94 against [[New Zealand national basketball team|New Zealand]] in the consolation finals and won bronze, and Nowitzki, as [[FIBA World Cup Top Scorer|the tournament's top scorer]], (24.0 points per game),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/21377/sid/3118/tid/288/_/2002_World_Championship_for_Men/index.html|title=Dirk Nowitzki profile, World Championship for Men 2002|website=FIBA.COM|access-date=January 21, 2019|archive-date=January 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106122726/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/21377/sid/3118/tid/288/_/2002_World_Championship_for_Men/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> was elected the [[FIBA World Cup MVP|tournament MVP]]. Back in Germany, over four million television viewers followed the games, an all-time record in German basketball history.<ref name=Sauer129140/>

In a preparation game for [[EuroBasket 2003]], Nowitzki suffered a foot injury after a collision with French player [[Florent Piétrus]]; as a result, Nowitzki played inconsistently and was also often target of hard fouls.<ref name=Sauer140145>Sauer, 140–145</ref> In the decisive second-round match against [[Italy national basketball team|Italy]] (only the winner was allowed to play the medal round), Germany lost, 86–84, finished ninth and did not qualify for the [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2004 Olympic Games]]. Nowitzki scored 22.5 points per game (third overall), but in general seemed to lack focus and dominance due to his injury.<ref name=Sauer140145/>

In the [[EuroBasket 2005]], Nowitzki led a depleted German squad into the Finals, beating title favorites [[Slovenia national basketball team|Slovenia]] in the quarter-finals and Spain in the semi-finals on the way. EuroBasket pundits praised Nowitzki in both matches: against Slovenia (76–62), the forward scored a game-high 22 points and commented: "The Slovenians underestimated us. They said we were the team they wanted and that was wrong, you shouldn't do that in the quarter-finals."<ref name=euro2005>[http://www.eurobasket.com/events/ec/05/ec05.asp European Championships 2005], Eurobasket.com. Retrieved January 19, 2008 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229173836/http://www.eurobasket.com/events/ec/05/ec05.asp |date=December 29, 2007 }}</ref> Against Spain (74–73), Nowitzki scored a game-high 27 points and scored the decisive basket: down by one and with only a few seconds to go, he drove on Spanish forward [[Jorge Garbajosa]], and hit a baseline jump shot over Garbajosa's outstretched arms with 3.9 seconds to go. The German later commented: "It was indescribable. Garbajosa kind of pushed me towards the baseline so I just went with it."<ref name=euro2005/> Despite losing the Finals, 78–62, to the [[Greece national basketball team|Greeks]], Nowitzki was [[FIBA EuroBasket Top Scorer|the tournament's leading scorer]] (26.1 per game),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/21377/sid/3769/tid/288/_/2005_EuroBasket_Final_Round/index.html|title=Dirk Nowitzki profile, EuroBasket 2005|website=FIBA.COM|access-date=January 21, 2019|archive-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225215536/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/21377/sid/3769/tid/288/_/2005_EuroBasket_Final_Round/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and second-leading rebounder (10.6 per game), and shot blocker (1.9 per game), and he was also voted [[FIBA EuroBasket MVP|the Most Valuable Player of the tournament]].<ref>[http://eurobasket2005.fibaeurope.com/en/coid_dy8NLcUpIqYqy5qCbpGal2.articleMode_on.html MVP Nowitzki Tops EuroBasket 2005 All-Tournament Team] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221071624/http://eurobasket2005.fibaeurope.com/en/coid_dy8NLcUpIqYqy5qCbpGal2.articleMode_on.html |date=December 21, 2007 }}, Eurobasket2005.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved January 19, 2008</ref> When he was subbed out towards the end of the final, Nowitzki received a standing ovation from the crowd, which he later recalled as "one of the best moments of [his] career".<ref>[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_ZnnR2TnfIj6JQUylexIUh3.coid_gHoxMMKeI8AM5K4G,SXuk0.articleMode_on.html Nowitzki Honoured by Player of the Year Status] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717114058/http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_ZnnR2TnfIj6JQUylexIUh3.coid_gHoxMMKeI8AM5K4G,SXuk0.articleMode_on.html |date=July 17, 2015 }}, Fibaeurope.com. Retrieved June 22, 2011</ref> The German team was awarded a silver medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dirk-nowitzki-officially-retires-from-germany-s-national-team-205312530.html|title=Dirk Nowitzki officially retires from Germany's national team|website=sports.yahoo.com|date=January 25, 2016 |access-date=April 11, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306033200/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dirk-nowitzki-officially-retires-from-germany-s-national-team-205312530.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[2006 FIBA World Championship]], Nowitzki led the German team to an eighth place and commented: "It's tough luck. But overall, finishing eighth in the world is not bad."<ref>[http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/scheResu/p/eventid//gamename/A/groupname/77/langid//playernumber//roundid/5153/teamnumber//zone//fe_scheStat_gameRepo.html Game Report, Lithuania vs Germany, 77–62, 7th Place] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809062348/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/scheResu/p/eventid//gamename/A/groupname/77/langid//playernumber//roundid/5153/teamnumber//zone//fe_scheStat_gameRepo.html |date=August 9, 2015 }}, Fiba.com. Retrieved January 19, 2008</ref>

[[File:Dirk Nowitzki 2015.jpg|thumbnail|Nowitzki playing for Germany in 2015]]
In the [[EuroBasket 2007]], in which the top three teams automatically qualified for the [[Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2008 Olympics]], Nowitzki led Germany to a fifth place. He was the leading scorer with 24.0 points per game.<ref>[http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq,v3.pageID_52EsHaHtGkAK-VU0djWhV3.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.html Eurobasket 2007: Players&nbsp;– Statistical Leaders] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020044342/http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq%2Cv3.pageID_52EsHaHtGkAK-VU0djWhV3.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.html |date=October 20, 2007 }}, Eurobasket2007.org. Retrieved June 20, 2008</ref> The fifth place meant that Germany fell short of direct qualification, but was allowed to participate in the [[FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2008|2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament]]. Nowitzki led Germany into a decisive match against [[Puerto Rico national basketball team|Puerto Rico]] for the last remaining slot. In that crucial match, he scored a game-high 32 points and was vital for the 96–82 win which sent the German basketball team to their first Olympics since the [[Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Summer Olympics]].<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/0,1518,566944,00.html Deutsche Basketballer erkämpfen sich Olympia-Qualifikation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325012753/http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/0,1518,566944,00.html |date=March 25, 2012 }}, ''Der Spiegel''. Retrieved June 20, 2008</ref> Nowitzki was [[2008 Summer Olympics national flag bearers|chosen to be the flag bearer]] for the German Olympic Team at the [[2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony|Opening Ceremony]] for the 2008 Olympics. Nowitzki led the German team to a tenth-place finish, and averaged 17.0 points and 8.4 rebounds for the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/21377/sid/4004/tid/288/_/2008_Olympic_Games_Tournament_Men/index.html|title=Dirk Nowitzki profile, Olympic Games: Tournament Men 2008|website=FIBA.COM|access-date=January 21, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306185350/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/21377/sid/4004/tid/288/_/2008_Olympic_Games_Tournament_Men/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080806/sp_wl_afp/oly2008basketgernowitzki_080806054718 Basketball star Nowitzki to carry German Olympic flag]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Yahoo! News, August 6, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.</ref>

In 2009, Nowitzki skipped the [[EuroBasket 2009]]. In July 2010, he said that he would skip the [[2010 FIBA World Championship]]. In summer 2011, Nowitzki played with Germany in the [[EuroBasket 2011]], where the team reached ninth place. In 2015, Nowitzki [[captain (sports)|captained]] Germany at the [[EuroBasket 2015|EuroBasket]]. They won only one game, and were eliminated in the group stage, on home soil.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spain Survive Germany Surge To Go To Lille|url=http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.coid_ZEwB9FRHIgkxUzkx1iHRV0.articleMode_on.html|publisher=FIBA|access-date=September 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912031506/http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.coid_ZEwB9FRHIgkxUzkx1iHRV0.articleMode_on.html|archive-date=September 12, 2015|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In January 2016, Nowitzki officially announced his retirement from Germany's national team.<ref>{{cite web |author=Dan Devine |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dirk-nowitzki-officially-retires-from-germany-s-national-team-205312530.html |title=Dirk Nowitzki officially retires from Germany's national team |publisher=Yahoo! |date=January 25, 2016 |access-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-date=March 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306033200/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/dirk-nowitzki-officially-retires-from-germany-s-national-team-205312530.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/nba/2016/01/24/dallas-mavericks-dirk-nowitzki-retires-german-national-team |title=Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki retires from German national team |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=January 24, 2016 |access-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222095837/http://www.si.com/nba/2016/01/24/dallas-mavericks-dirk-nowitzki-retires-german-national-team |url-status=live }}</ref> In his career with Germany's senior men's national team, he averaged 19.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/Dirk%20NOWITZKI/pid/21377/_//players.html |title=Players |website=Archive.fiba.com |access-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-date=March 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306035908/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/Dirk%20NOWITZKI/pid/21377/_//players.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Nowitzki was named the [[Euroscar Award|Euroscar European Basketball Player of the Year]] by the Italian sports newspaper ''[[Gazzetta dello Sport]]'' for five years running from 2002 to 2006 and again in 2011.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4683475/dirk-nowitzki-named-europlayer-of-the-year Dirk Nowitzki named Europlayer of the year – Dallas Mavericks Blog – ESPN Dallas] . ESPN. Retrieved August 10, 2012.</ref> He was also named the [[Mister Europa|Mister Europa European Player of the Year]] by the Italian sports magazine ''[[Superbasket]]'' in 2005, and the [[FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year Award|FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year]] twice in 2005 and 2011.<ref name=nbabio/> He was named to the [[FIBA EuroBasket 2000–2020 Dream Team]] in 2020.<ref name="FIBA">{{cite web|title=Διαμαντίδης και Σπανούλης στην κορυφαία πεντάδα της 20ετιας των EuroBasket|url=https://www.sport24.gr/basket/diamantidis-kai-spanoylis-psifistikan-stin-koryfaia-pentada-tis-20etias-ton-eurobasket.8989177.html|publisher=FIBA|access-date=August 11, 2020|date=August 16, 2023|archive-date=July 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709041429/https://www.sport24.gr/basket/diamantidis-kai-spanoylis-psifistikan-stin-koryfaia-pentada-tis-20etias-ton-eurobasket.8989177.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[German Basketball Federation]] (DBB) honored Nowitzki with a jersey (number 14){{efn|FIBA only allowed player numbers between 4 and 15 for international matches until 2018, after Nowitzki had retired from international play.}} [[Germany men's national basketball team#Retired numbers|retirement]] in September 2022, ahead of [[EuroBasket 2022]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Germany to honor Nowitzki with jersey retirement at FIBA EuroBasket 2022|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2022/news/germany-to-honor-nowitzki-with-jersey-retirement-at-fiba-eurobasket-2022|publisher=FIBA|access-date=March 25, 2022|archive-date=March 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325132335/https://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2022/news/germany-to-honor-nowitzki-with-jersey-retirement-at-fiba-eurobasket-2022|url-status=live}}</ref> The ceremony was held on September 2, immediately before Germany's EuroBasket opening game against [[France men's national basketball team|France]] in [[Lanxess Arena|Cologne]]. DBB also announced that a replica of Nowitzki's national team jersey would hang from the arena rafters at all future Germany men's home games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Germany give Nowitzki ultimate honor, retire No. 14|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2022/news/germany-give-nowitzki-ultimate-honor-retire-no-14|publisher=FIBA|access-date=September 1, 2022|archive-date=September 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901190921/https://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2022/news/germany-give-nowitzki-ultimate-honor-retire-no-14|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Player profile==
[[File:FreiwurfNowitzki.jpg|thumb|Nowitzki shooting a free-throw against the [[Charlotte Bobcats]] on November 11, 2005]]
Nowitzki was a versatile frontcourt player who mostly played the [[Power forward (basketball)|power forward]], but also played [[Center (basketball)|center]] and [[small forward]] in his career. An exceptional shooter for his size, Nowitzki made 88% of his free throws, nearly 50% of his field goal attempts and nearly 40% of his 3-point shots, and won the [[2006 NBA All-Star Game#Three-Point Shootout|2006 NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest]].<ref name=stats/> In the 2006–07 season, Nowitzki became only the fifth member of the NBA's [[50–40–90 Club]] for players who shot 50% or better from the field, 40% or better on three-pointers, and 90% or better on free-throws in a single season while achieving the NBA league minimum number of makes in each category.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/leader_requirements.html |title=NBA.com Minimum Stats for Leaders |website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=October 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117041423/http://www.nba.com/leader_requirements.html |archive-date=November 17, 2010 }}</ref>

Nowitzki's shooting accuracy, combined with his long seven-foot frame and unique shooting mechanics (such as having a release point above his head), made his jump shots difficult to contest. Before the start of the 2011 NBA Finals, LeBron James called Nowitzki's one-legged [[fadeaway]] the second most unstoppable move ever, behind only [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]]'s skyhook.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mutoni |first=Marcel |date=May 30, 2011 |title=LeBron: Dirk's Fadeaway 2nd Most Unstoppable Shot Ever |url=http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/05/lebron-dirks-fadeaway-2nd-most-unstoppable-shot-ever/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509020305/http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/05/lebron-dirks-fadeaway-2nd-most-unstoppable-shot-ever/ |archive-date=May 9, 2014 |access-date=February 25, 2014 |website=SLAMonline}}</ref>
Additionally, Nowitzki could drive to the basket from the perimeter like few men his size were able to do.<ref name=PF>[https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2074360 ESPN.com's Greatest Power Forwards], ESPN, June 2, 2005. Retrieved January 7, 2008</ref> NBA.com lauded his versatility by stating: "The 7–0 forward who at times mans the pivot can strike fear in an opponent when he corrals a rebound and leads the break or prepares to launch a three-point bomb."<ref name=nbabio/> [[Charles Barkley]] said the best way to guard Nowitzki was to "get a cigarette and a blindfold".<ref>[http://www.hoopsdaily.com/content/charles-barkley-ron-artest-should-be-suspended-lakers-are-done Charles Barkley: Ron Artest should be suspended: 'Lakers are done'] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130125114236/http://www.hoopsdaily.com/content/charles-barkley-ron-artest-should-be-suspended-lakers-are-done |date=January 25, 2013 }}, Hoopsdaily.com, May 5, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2011</ref> Later on in his career, Nowitzki also developed an unorthodox post-up game, often backing down his opponents from the free-throw line or near the middle of the key, opening up the floor for multiple passing angles should a double team come his way.{{Citation needed|date=January 2019}} In 2022, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary ''[[The Athletic]]'' ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Nowitzki as the 21st greatest player in NBA history.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://theathletic.com/3077266/2022/01/21/nba-75-at-no-21-dirk-nowitzki-the-greatest-outside-shooting-7-footer-in-history-and-a-one-team-superstar-in-the-superteam-era/ | title=NBA 75: At No. 21, Dirk Nowitzki, the greatest outside shooting 7-footer in history and a one-team superstar in the superteam era | work=The New York Times | access-date=March 10, 2023 | archive-date=March 10, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310235919/https://theathletic.com/3077266/2022/01/21/nba-75-at-no-21-dirk-nowitzki-the-greatest-outside-shooting-7-footer-in-history-and-a-one-team-superstar-in-the-superteam-era/ | url-status=live | last1=Cato | first1=Tim }}</ref>

Nowitzki was the sixth player in NBA history, and the first European, to hit the 30,000-point milestone.<ref name="points"/> Apart from being the Mavericks' all-time leader in points, rebounds, field goals, field goal attempts, 3-pointers, 3-point attempts, blocks, free throws, and free-throw attempts, Nowitzki made the [[NBA All-Star Game|NBA All-Star]] games fourteen times and the [[All-NBA Team]]s twelve times. He was voted [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA MVP]] of the 2006–07 NBA season, becoming the first European player to receive the honor, as well as the MVP of the 2011 NBA Finals. Other achievements include winning the 2006 [[Three-Point Contest]] and the 2017 NBA [[Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award|Teammate of the Year]] award, being voted [[Euroscar|European Basketballer of the Year]] five times in a row by ''[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]]''. He was the leading scorer and [[Most valuable player|MVP]] of the [[2002 FIBA World Championship]], and [[EuroBasket 2005]] tournaments.<ref>[http://www.linguasport.com/baloncesto/internacional/eurobasket/eurobasket_e.htm XXXIV European Championship Beograd 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716104841/http://www.linguasport.com/baloncesto/internacional/eurobasket/eurobasket_e.htm |date=July 16, 2017 }}, ''Linguasport'', 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://foxsportsradio.iheart.com/content/dirk-nowitzkis-last-press-conference-after-his-final-game-mavericks/ Dirk Nowitzki's Last Press Conference After His Final Game] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107233803/https://foxsportsradio.iheart.com/content/dirk-nowitzkis-last-press-conference-after-his-final-game-mavericks/ |date=November 7, 2020 }}, ''[[Fox Sports Radio]]'', Ed Black, April 11, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.</ref>

Nowitzki is the only player to record at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, 1,200 steals, 1,250 blocks and 1,500 three-point field goals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dirk: 10,000 rebounds 'pretty unbelievable'|date=March 25, 2015|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-mavericks/post/_/id/4704941/dirk-10000-rebounds-pretty-unbelievable|publisher=ESPN|access-date=March 25, 2015|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929184004/http://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-mavericks/post/_/id/4704941/dirk-10000-rebounds-pretty-unbelievable|url-status=live}}</ref>

==NBA career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y|leader=y}}

===Regular season===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1998}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1998–99 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 47 || 24 || 20.4 || .405 || .206 || .773 || 3.4 || 1.0 || .6 || .6 || 8.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1999|trunc=y}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1999–2000 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| '''82''' || 81 || 35.8 || .461 || .379 || .830 || 6.5 || 2.5 || .8 || .8 || 17.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2000}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2000–01 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| '''82''' || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''82'''* || 38.1 || .474 || .387 || .838 || 9.2 || 2.1 || 1.0 || 1.2 || 21.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2001}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2001–02 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 76 || 76 || 38.0 || .477 || .397 || .853 || '''9.9''' || 2.4 || 1.1 || 1.0 || 23.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2002}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2002–03 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 80 || 80 || '''39.0''' || .463 || .379 || .881 || '''9.9''' || 3.0 || '''1.4''' || 1.0 || 25.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2003}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2003–04 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 77 || 77 || 37.9 || .462 || .341 || .877 || 8.7 || 2.7 || 1.2 || 1.4 || 21.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2004}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2004–05 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 78 || 78 || 38.7 || .459 || .399 || .869 || 9.7 || 3.1 || 1.2 || '''1.5''' || 26.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2005}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2005–06 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 81 || 81 || 38.1 || .480 || .406 || .901 || 9.0 || 2.8 || .7 || 1.0 || '''26.6'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2006}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2006–07 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 78 || 78 || 36.2 || .502 || .416 || .904 || 8.9 || 3.4 || .7 || .8 || 24.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2007}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2007–08 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 77 || 77 || 36.0 || .479 || .359 || .879 || 8.6 || '''3.5''' || .7 || .9 || 23.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2008}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2008–09 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 81 || 81 || 37.7 || .479 || .359 || .890 || 8.4 || 2.4 || .8 || .8 || 25.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2009}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2009–10 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 81 || 80 || 37.5 || .481 || '''.421''' || '''.915''' || 7.7 || 2.7 || .9 || 1.0 || 25.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|{{nbay|2010}}†
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2010–11 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 73 || 73 || 34.3 || .'''517''' || .393 || .892 || 7.0 || 2.6 || .5 || .6 || 23.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2011}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2011–12 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 62 || 62 || 33.5 || .457 || .368 || .896 || 6.8 || 2.2 || .7 || .5 || 21.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2012}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2012–13 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 53 || 47 || 31.3 || .471 || .414 || .860 || 6.8 || 2.5 || .7 || .7 || 17.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2013}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2013–14 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 80 || 80 || 32.9 || .497 || .398 || .899 || 6.2 || 2.7 || .9 || .6 || 21.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2014}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2014–15 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 77 || 77 || 29.6 || .459 || .380 || .882 || 5.9 || 1.9 || .5 || .4 || 17.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2015}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2015–16 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 75 || 75 || 31.5 || .448 || .368 || .893 || 6.5 || 1.8 || .7 || .7 || 18.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2016}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2016–17 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 54 || 54 || 26.4 || .437 || .378 || .875 || 6.5 || 1.5 || .6 || .7 || 14.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2017}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2017–18 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 77 || 77 || 24.7 || .456 || .409 || .898 || 5.7 || 1.6 || .6 || .6 || 12.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2018}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2018–19 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 51 || 20 || 15.6 || .359 || .312 || .780 || 3.1 || .7 || .2 || .4 || 7.3
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Career
| 1,522 || 1,460 || 33.8 || .471 || .380 || .879 || 7.5 || 2.4 || .8 || .8 || 20.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | All-Star
| 14 || 2 || 16.2 || .450 || .290 || .875 || 3.7 || 1.1 || .7 || .4 || 8.7
{{s-end}}

===Playoffs===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2001 NBA playoffs|2001]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2000–01 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 10 || 10 || 39.9 || .423 || .283 || .883 || 8.1 || 1.4 || 1.1 || .8 || 23.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2002 NBA playoffs|2002]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2001–02 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 8 || 8 || '''44.6''' || .445 || '''.571''' || .878 || '''13.1''' || 2.3 || '''2.0''' || .8 || '''28.4'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2003 NBA playoffs|2003]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2002–03 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 17 || 17 || 42.5 || .479 || .443 || .912 || 11.5 || 2.2 || 1.2 || .9 || 25.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2004 NBA playoffs|2004]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2003–04 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 5 || 5 || 42.4 || .450 || .467 || .857 || 11.8 || 1.4 || 1.4 || '''2.6''' || 26.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2005 NBA playoffs|2005]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2004–05 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 13 || 13 || 42.4 || .402 || .333 || .829 || 10.1 || 3.3 || 1.4 || 1.6 || 23.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2006 NBA playoffs|2006]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2005–06 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| '''23''' || '''23''' || 42.7 || .468 || .343 || .895 || 11.7 || 2.9 || 1.1 || .6 || 27.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2007 NBA playoffs|2007]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2006–07 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 6 || 6 || 39.8 || .383 || .211 || .840 || 11.3 || 2.3 || 1.8 || 1.3 || 19.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2008 NBA playoffs|2008]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2007–08 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 5 || 5 || 42.2 || .473 || .333 || .808 || 12.0 || '''4.0''' || .2 || 1.4 || 26.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2009 NBA playoffs|2009]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2008–09 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 10 || 10 || 39.5 || .518 || .286 || .925 || 10.1 || 3.1 || .9 || .8 || 26.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2010 NBA playoffs|2010]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2009–10 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 6 || 6 || 38.8 || '''.547''' || '''.571''' || '''.952''' || 8.2 || 3.0 || .8 || .7 || 26.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|[[2011 NBA playoffs|2011]]†
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2010–11 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 21 || 21 || 39.3 || .485 || .460 || .941 || 8.1 || 2.5 || .6 || .6 || 27.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2012 NBA playoffs|2012]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2011–12 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 4 || 4 || 38.5 || .442 || .167 || .905 || 6.3 || 1.8 || .8 || .0 || 26.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2014 NBA playoffs|2014]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2013–14 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 7 || 7 || 37.6 || .429 || .083 || .806 || 8.0 || 1.6 || .9 || .9 || 19.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2015 NBA playoffs|2015]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2014–15 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 5 || 5 || 36.2 || .452 || .235 || .929 || 10.2 || 2.4 || .4 || .4 || 21.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2016 NBA playoffs|2016]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2015–16 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 5 || 5 || 34.0 || .494 || .364 || .941 || 5.0 || 1.6 || .4 || .6 || 20.4
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Career
| 145 || 145 || 40.7 || .462 || .365 || .892 || 10.0 || 2.5 || 1.0 || .9 || 25.3
|}

==Career highlights==
<!-- If you update statistics, please UPDATE the source at the SAME TIME, otherwise it may be reverted -->
;NBA
* [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Finals MVP]]: 2011
* [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]]: 2007
* 14× [[NBA All-Star]]: 2002–2012, 2014–2015, 2019
* 12× [[All-NBA|All-NBA Team]]: 2001–2012
** 4× First Team: 2005–2007, 2009
** 5× Second Team: 2002–2003, 2008, 2010–2011
** 3× Third Team: 2001, 2004, 2012
* [[NBA Three-Point Contest]] champion: [[2006 NBA All-Star Game|2006]]
* [[NBA All-Star Weekend Shooting Stars Competition|NBA Shooting Stars champion]]: [[2010 NBA All-Star Game|2010]]<ref>{{cite web|title=NBA All-Star Shooting Stars Winners|date=August 24, 2017|publisher=National Basketball Association|url=http://www.nba.com/history/all-star/shooting-stars#/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224155543/http://www.nba.com/history/all-star/shooting-stars|archive-date=February 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award|NBA Teammate of the Year]]: 2017
* Ranked 6th in all-time-scoring<ref name="points"/>
* Ranked 5th in all-time defensive-rebounds<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/milestones.cgi?stat=drb |title=NBA Milestone Watch: Defensive Rebounds |website=Basketball-Reference.com |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-date=August 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801012907/http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/milestones.cgi?stat=drb |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Ranked 2nd in all-time NBA Finals free throw percentage<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ft_pct_career_finals.html | title=NBA Career Finals Leaders and Records for Free Throw Pct | access-date=January 15, 2016 | publisher=basketball-reference.com | archive-date=January 15, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115165216/http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ft_pct_career_finals.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
* 82 consecutive free throws made in the regular season (the third-longest streak of all time)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.t-online.de/sport/basketball/id_45277420/dirk-nowitzki-jagt-den-freiwurf-rekord.html |title=Nowitzki verwandelt 72. Freiwurf in Folge (German) |access-date=January 27, 2017 |publisher=t-online.de |archive-date=January 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127202938/http://www.t-online.de/sport/basketball/id_45277420/dirk-nowitzki-jagt-den-freiwurf-rekord.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 26 consecutive free throws made in the Finals (longest streak of all time)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.focus.de/sport/mehrsport/dirk-nowitzki-wieder-neuer-freiwurf-rekord_aid_635192.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419101726/http://www.focus.de/sport/mehrsport/dirk-nowitzki-wieder-neuer-freiwurf-rekord_aid_635192.html |url-status=live |archive-date=April 19, 2016 |title=Dirk Nowitzki: Wieder neuer Freiwurf-Rekord (German) |access-date=January 27, 2017 |publisher=focus.de }}</ref>
* One of three players with at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, 1,000 steals and 1,000 blocks<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=combined&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&per_poss_base=100&season_start=1&season_end=-1&lg_id=NBA&age_min=0&age_max=99&is_playoffs=N&height_min=0&height_max=99&birth_country_is=Y&as_comp=gt&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&force%3Apos_is=1&c1stat=pts&c1comp=gt&c1val=30000&c2stat=trb&c2comp=gt&c2val=10000&c3stat=stl&c3comp=gt&c3val=1000&c4stat=blk&c4comp=gt&c4val=1000&c6mult=1.0&order_by=ws |title=Player Season Finder |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=March 5, 2017}}</ref>
* One of two players with 150 three-pointers and 100 blocks in a single season: 2001<ref name="blocks_3point">{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=&year_max=&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&is_active=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=blk&c1comp=gt&c1val=100&c2stat=fg3&c2comp=gt&c2val=150&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=2500&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=1000&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws |title=Player Season Finder |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-date=March 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306035330/http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=&year_max=&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&is_active=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=blk&c1comp=gt&c1val=100&c2stat=fg3&c2comp=gt&c2val=150&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=2500&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=1000&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws |url-status=live }}</ref>
* One of four players with an NBA Playoff career average of 25 ppg and 10 rpg (25.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg)<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/609/seasontype/3/dirk-nowitzki Dirk Nowitzki Stats] . ESPN NBA. Retrieved March 27, 2015.</ref>
* One of eight members of the [[50–40–90 club]]: 2007
* One of three players to surpass the mark of 1,000 in both three-pointers and blocks for the career<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=combined&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=&year_max=&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&is_active=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=blk&c1comp=gt&c1val=1000&c2stat=fg3&c2comp=gt&c2val=1000&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws |title=Player Season Finder |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062355/http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=combined&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=&year_max=&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&is_active=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=blk&c1comp=gt&c1val=1000&c2stat=fg3&c2comp=gt&c2val=1000&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws |url-status=live }}</ref>
* One of four players to surpass the marks of 30,000 in points and 10,000 in rebounds for the career<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=combined&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=&year_max=&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&is_active=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=trb&c1comp=gt&c1val=10000&c2stat=pts&c2comp=gt&c2val=30000&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws |title=Player Season Finder |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=March 5, 2017}}</ref>
* Holds the record for most free-throws made in a single playoff season with 205 free-throws made: 2006<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ft_season_p.html NBA & ABA Single Season Playoff Leaders and Records for Free Throws] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119194130/https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ft_season_p.html |date=November 19, 2017 }}. Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 10, 2012.</ref>
* [[Dallas Mavericks all-time roster#Statistics leaders|Dallas Mavericks all-time statistical leader]] in games, seasons, points, rebounds, blocks, field goals, three-point field goals and free throws<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/leaders_career.html Dallas Mavericks Career Leaders] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208074828/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/leaders_career.html |date=February 8, 2011 }}. Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2019.</ref>
*NBA record for most seasons with one team (21) and games played in a career spent with only one team (1,522)

;German national basketball team
<!-- If you update statistics, please UPDATE the source at the SAME TIME, otherwise it may be reverted -->
* [[2002 FIBA World Championship]]: bronze medal, [[FIBA World Cup MVP|MVP]], [[FIBA World Cup Top Scorer|top scorer]], [[FIBA World Cup All-Tournament Team|all-tournament team]]
* [[EuroBasket 2005]]: silver medal, [[EuroBasket MVP|MVP]], [[EuroBasket Top Scorer|top scorer]], [[EuroBasket All-Tournament Team|all-tournament team]]
* [[2006 FIBA World Championship]], [[EuroBasket 2001]], [[EuroBasket 2007]]: top scorer, all-tournament team
* ''Goldener Ehrenring'' (golden honorary ring) of the DBB (German Basketball Federation): 2007
* [[FIBA EuroBasket 2000–2020 Dream Team]]:<ref name="FIBA"/>
* [[EuroBasket Records#All-time leading scorers in total points scored|Third leading scorer]] (1,052 points) in the history of [[EuroBasket]]
* Leading scorer in the history of the senior [[German national basketball team]] (3,045 points in 153 international games)
* Member of the German national basketball team which was voted Outstanding German Team of the Year: 2005<ref>[http://www.sportler-des-jahres.de/2-wahl/mannschaften-seit-1947 Sportler des Jahres: Mannschaften des Jahres seit 1947] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101055749/http://www.sportler-des-jahres.de/2-wahl/mannschaften-seit-1947 |date=January 1, 2013 }}. Sportler-des-jahres.de. Retrieved August 10, 2012.</ref>

;Other achievements and highlights
<!-- If you update statistics, please UPDATE the source at the SAME TIME, otherwise it may be reverted -->
* [[Basketball Bundesliga MVP|German League MVP]]: 1999<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.easycredit-bbl.de/de/easycredit-bbl/historie/auszeichnungen--amp--awards/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729025438/http://www.easycredit-bbl.de/de/easycredit-bbl/historie/auszeichnungen--amp--awards/ | archive-date=July 29, 2016 | title=EasyCredit - Auszeichnungen & Awards }}</ref>
* [[Basketball Bundesliga Top Scorer|German League Top Scorer]]: 1999
* 6× [[Euroscar]]: 2002–2006, 2011
* 2× [[FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year Award|FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year]]: 2005, 2011
* [[Mr. Europa]]: 2005
* 5× All-Europeans Player of the Year: 2005–2008, 2011
* German national [[2008 Summer Olympics national flag bearers|flag bearer]] at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing, China
* [[Best NBA Player ESPY Award]]: 2011
* [[Best Male Athlete ESPY Award]]: 2011
* [[Outstanding Team ESPY Award]] with the Dallas Mavericks: 2011
* [[List of 2009 all-decade Sports Illustrated awards and honors#NBA All-Decade Team|''Sports Illustrated'' NBA All-Decade Second Team]] (2000–2009)
* [[Silbernes Lorbeerblatt]]: 2011
* [[German Sportspersonality of the Year|German Sports Personality of the Year]]: 2011
* Naismith Legacy Award: 2012
* [[Magic Johnson Award]]: 2014<ref>[http://probasketballwriters.org/dirk-nowitzki-wins-magic-johnson-award/ Dirk Nowitzki named winner of the 2013–14 Magic Johnson Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427011128/http://probasketballwriters.org/dirk-nowitzki-wins-magic-johnson-award/ |date=April 27, 2014 }}. Probasketballwriters.org. Retrieved April 25, 2014.</ref>
* [[Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award]]: 2020<ref name="b457">{{cite web | title=Dirk Nowitzki | website=Laureus | url=https://www.laureus.com/world-sports-awards/2020/laureus-lifetime-achievement-award/dirk-nowitzki | access-date=2024-09-16}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Nowitzki's older sister, Silke Nowitzki, described Nowitzki as a confident but low-key character, unspoiled by money and fame.<ref>Sauer, 46</ref> He enjoys reading and playing the [[saxophone]].<ref name=nbabio/> Nowitzki passed his [[Abitur]] examination at Röntgen Gymnasium Grammar School of [[Würzburg]]. He founded the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, a charity which aims at fighting [[poverty in Africa]].<ref>Sauer, 159</ref>
According to his biography ''[[Dirk Nowitzki - german wunderkind]]'', Nowitzki had a quiet, happy childhood in the Bavarian city of [[Würzburg]]. He is the son of Helga and Jörg-Werner Nowitzki, two retired professional handballers who played for Germany, and has a sister called Silke. During his teenage days at the DJK Würzburg basketball club, he fell in love with female DJK colleague Sybille Gerer, a relationship which held seven years before they broke up. Whilst being a basketball prodigy, Nowitzki struggled in school and had several Es and Fs as a teenager, but managed to finish his "Abitur" (German A-levels) before becoming a professional.


Nowitzki dated Sybille Gerer, a female basketball player from his local club DJK Würzburg. The relationship started in 1992 and lasted for 10 years before it ended in 2002; Nowitzki said, "At the end, we found out we developed in separate ways.{{nbsp}}... It did not work anymore, but we are still good friends."<ref name=Sauer158>Sauer, 158</ref> He added: "I surely want to start a family and have kids, but I cannot imagine it happening before I become 30."<ref name=Sauer158/>
In the book, Nowitzki acknowledges close relationships with his mentor and best friend Holger Geschwinder, and with [[Don Nelson]], his first coach. His sister Silke describes him as a friendly, quiet character who "is unspoilt by money", and whose idol is retired Chicago Bulls forward [[Scottie Pippen]].


In 2010, Nowitzki met and began dating Jessica Olsson, sister of twin footballers [[Martin Olsson]] and [[Marcus Olsson]].<ref>[http://www.shortnews.de/id/853075/Dirk-Nowitzki-ist-frisch-verliebt-Es-ist-die-schoene-Schwedin-Jessica-Olsson Dirk Nowitzki ist frisch verliebt&nbsp;– Es ist die schöne Schwedin Jessica Olsson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001055608/http://www.shortnews.de/id/853075/Dirk-Nowitzki-ist-frisch-verliebt-Es-ist-die-schoene-Schwedin-Jessica-Olsson |date=October 1, 2011 }}, Sshortnews.de, October 7, 2010. Retrieved July 27, 2011</ref> The couple got married on July 20, 2012, at Nowitzki's home in Dallas.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-08 |title=Judge confirms Nowitzki was married in July |url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/8249278/judge-confirms-dallas-mavericks-dirk-nowitzki-was-married-july |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812020004/http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/8249278/judge-confirms-dallas-mavericks-dirk-nowitzki-was-married-july |archive-date=August 12, 2012 |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> They have a daughter, born in July 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-mavericks/headlines/20130724-german-newspaper-mavericks-dirk-nowitzki-jessica-olsson-have-baby-daughter.ece?nclick_check=1 |title=The Dallas Morning News &#124; Options |work=The Dallas Morning News |access-date=February 25, 2014 |archive-date=January 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101214852/http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-mavericks/headlines/20130724-german-newspaper-mavericks-dirk-nowitzki-jessica-olsson-have-baby-daughter.ece?nclick_check=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> and two sons, born in March 2015 and November 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacMahon |first=Tim |date=2015-03-24 |title=Congrats, Dirk: It's a boy |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4704928/congrats-dirk-its-a-boy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325235939/http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4704928/congrats-dirk-its-a-boy |archive-date=March 25, 2015 |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Though Nowitzki has considered acquiring U.S. citizenship, he remains a German national.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dw.de/german-basketball-star-nowitzki-hints-at-us-passport-bid/a-15655473 |title=German basketball star Nowitzki hints at US passport bid &#124; DW.COM &#124; 10.01.2012 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=April 16, 2015 |access-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-date=May 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516085749/http://www.dw.de/german-basketball-star-nowitzki-hints-at-us-passport-bid/a-15655473 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021 he received the [[green card]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/basketball-basketball-legende-nowitzki-hat-endlich-green-card-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-210507-99-505447 | title=Basketball-Legende Nowitzki hat endlich Green Card | date=May 7, 2021 }}</ref>
==Trivia==
*Nowitzki once jokingly remarked that he hums the tune "[[Looking for Freedom (song)|Looking for Freedom]]" by [[David Hasselhoff]] to relax before taking free throws. The song was a big hit in Germany when Nowitzki was a child. During the 2006 NBA finals, [[WAXY|790 The Ticket]], a Miami radio station handed out papers with Hasselhoff's face to the fans sitting behind the baskets for Nowitzki. In addition, Miami fans chanted the name "David Hasselhoff" when Nowitzki visited the free throw line in an attempt to distract his concentration.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2006/news/story?id=2447655 Baywatch revival? Dirk hums Hasselhoff song to relax] espn.com [[May 18]], [[2006]]</ref>
*Nowitzki used to play with number 14 in Germany and switched the figures to 41 when he entered the NBA.
<blockquote>


Nowitzki acknowledged close ties to his mentor Holger Geschwindner, whom he called his best friend. He is also good friends with his ex-teammate [[Steve Nash]].<ref name=Sauer8586>Sauer, 85–86</ref> Nash said of playing with Nowitzki, "We were both joining a new club, living in a new city, we were both single and outsiders: this creates a bond{{nbsp}}... He made life easier for me and I for him{{nbsp}}... Our friendship was something solid in a very volatile world." Nowitzki added, "He would have also become a good friend if we had met at the supermarket."<ref name=Sauer8586/>
</blockquote>


Nowitzki is a keen [[association football]] fan and an avid supporter of [[Arsenal F.C.]]<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=500681580797763584 |user=swish41 |title=Finally prem league is back. C'mon arsenal. |date=August 16, 2014 |access-date=January 3, 2021 |last=Nowitzki |first=Dirk}}</ref>
==Notes==

{{reflist}}
==Books==
Nowitzki's career has been chronicled in books. ''[[Dirk Nowitzki: German Wunderkind]]'', written by German sports journalists Dino Reisner and Holger Sauer, was published in 2004 by CoPress Munich. The 160-page hardcover book follows Nowitzki's beginnings in his native [[Würzburg]], documents his entry into and ascent within the NBA, and ends at the beginning of the 2004–05 NBA season.

In November 2011, the Würzburg local newspaper ''Main-Post'' published a 216-page book written by its sports journalists Jürgen Höpfl and Fabian Frühwirth: ''Einfach Er&nbsp;– Dirk Nowitzki&nbsp;– Aus Würzburg an die Weltspitze'', (''Just Him&nbsp;– Dirk Nowitzki&nbsp;– From Würzburg to the Top of the World'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.einfach-er.de/art1026,11157|title=Einfach Er – Das Buch über Dirk Nowitzki|website=Einfach-er.de|language=de|trans-title=Just Him – The Book About Dirk Nowitzki|access-date=August 10, 2012|archive-date=July 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715065420/http://www.einfach-er.de/art1026,11157|url-status=dead}}</ref> Both Höpfl and Frühwirth accompanied Nowitzki throughout his career, collecting interviews and photos used in the book. It looks back on the [[2011 NBA Finals]] but also has a strong focus on Nowitzki's relation to his hometown Würzburg and his career progression which began there. The book features insights from former coaches, family members, and friends.

In 2019, Thomas Pletzinger published the 502-page biography ''The Great Nowitzki'', which was regarded as one of the best sports biographies to have ever been published in German.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peitz |first1=Dirk |title="The Great Nowitzki" – Das Auge im Sturm |url=https://www.zeit.de/kultur/literatur/2019-09/the-great-nowitzki-buch-thomas-pletzinger-basketball/komplettansicht |newspaper=Die Zeit |access-date=May 31, 2020 |language=de |date=September 7, 2019 |archive-date=September 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907105530/https://www.zeit.de/kultur/literatur/2019-09/the-great-nowitzki-buch-thomas-pletzinger-basketball/komplettansicht |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Behrendt |first1=Moritz |title=Ganz nah dran und doch unbegreiflich |url=https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/thomas-pletzinger-the-great-nowitzki-ganz-nah-dran-und-doch.1270.de.html?dram:article_id=462276 |website=deutschlandfunkkultur.de |access-date=May 31, 2020 |language=de |date=October 31, 2019 |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928154339/https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/thomas-pletzinger-the-great-nowitzki-ganz-nah-dran-und-doch.1270.de.html?dram:article_id=462276 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==In popular culture==
In 2014, the film documentary ''[[Nowitzki. The Perfect Shot]]'' was released, which retells Nowitzki's career and life.<ref name="s222">{{cite web | last=Gallagher | first=Jason | title=An unabashed review of Dirk Nowitzki's "The Perfect Shot" | website=Mavs.com| date=2015-04-15 | url=https://www.mavs.com/an-unabashed-review-of-dirk-nowitzkis-the-perfect-shot/ | access-date=2024-09-16}}</ref>

==Honors==
On October 30, 2019, by a unanimous resolution of the Dallas City Council, part of Olive Street was renamed Nowitzki Way, which runs past the [[American Airlines Center]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2019 |title=Dallas Street Renamed 'Nowitzki Way' in Honor of Dirk |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/dallas-to-rename-stretch-of-olive-street-nowitzki-way-wednesday/2076436/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Roy |first1=Reagan |title=Section of Olive Street in Dallas officially becomes 'Nowitzki Way' |url=https://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/local/section-of-olive-street-in-dallas-officially-becomes-nowitzki-way/501-b2372b3c-df3f-4c85-b304-7a2c87f15687 |website=cbs19.tv |date=October 30, 2019 |publisher=CBS 19 |access-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-date=January 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107164645/https://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/local/section-of-olive-street-in-dallas-officially-becomes-nowitzki-way/501-b2372b3c-df3f-4c85-b304-7a2c87f15687 |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2019, Nowitzki received the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] from Federal President [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]], in recognition of his social commitment.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Krams|first=Ronald|date=December 4, 2019|title=Ehrung für Dirk Nowitzki - Basketball-Legende erhält Bundesverdienstkreuz|url=https://de.euronews.com/2019/12/04/ehrung-fur-dirk-nowitzki-basketball-legende-erhalt-bundesverdienstkreuz|access-date=January 5, 2022|website=euronews|language=de|archive-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404204503/https://de.euronews.com/2019/12/04/ehrung-fur-dirk-nowitzki-basketball-legende-erhalt-bundesverdienstkreuz|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 5, 2022, Nowitzki's number 41 was retired by the Mavericks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mavs.com/mavs-crank-up-defense/|title=Defense-first Mavericks stymie Warriors on Dirk's festive night|last=Seifko|first=Eddie|website=mavs.com|date=January 5, 2022|access-date=January 5, 2022|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405024733/https://www.mavs.com/mavs-crank-up-defense/|url-status=live}}</ref> The same night, [[Mark Cuban]] unveiled the design for a [[statue of Nowitzki]] that was planned to be installed outside the [[American Airlines Center]] in [[Dallas]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stevenson |first=Stefan |date=January 6, 2022 |title=Dallas Mavericks retire Dirk Nowitzki's No. 41 jersey, unveil rendering of statue |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/article257085637.html#storylink=mainstage_card5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106073253/https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/article257085637.html#storylink=mainstage_card5 |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |access-date=January 6, 2022 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}}</ref> The statue was unveiled on Christmas Day later that year.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Trigg |first=Dalton |date=December 25, 2022 |title=Mavs Unveil Dirk Nowitzki's Statue Ahead of Matchup with Lakers |url=https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/dallas-mavs-unveil-dirk-nowitzki-statue-before-los-angeles-lakers-christmas-day-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214023556/https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/dallas-mavs-unveil-dirk-nowitzki-statue-before-los-angeles-lakers-christmas-day-game |archive-date=February 14, 2023 |access-date=December 26, 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

[[File:Dirk Nowitzki Statue Ffm..JPG|thumb|right|{{ill|Statue of Dirk Nowitzki in Frankfurt|de|lt=Dirk Nowitzki statue in Frankfurt|Dirk-Nowitzki-Statue (Frankfurt am Main)}}]]A different {{ill|Statue of Dirk Nowitzki in Frankfurt|de|lt=Dirk Nowitzki statue in Frankfurt|Dirk-Nowitzki-Statue (Frankfurt am Main)}} was unveiled on October 12, 2023, in recognition of Nowitzki's long-term advertising activities by the CEO of the [[ING Group|ING Germany]] in the presence of Nowitzki in [[Frankfurt]]. The statue made by the sculptor Andreas Artur Hoferick of bronze, slightly over life size, shows Nowitzki sitting on a wooden bench on one side. The position on the bench is said to invite passersby to take space next to the athlete.<ref>''Dirk Nowitzki trifft seine Statue'', Henriette Busch [[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]] (in German) October 12, 2023. [https://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-main/frankfurt/denkmal-fuer-die-basketball-legende-dirk-nowitzki-in-frankfurt-19239612.html]</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of NBA career games played leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career rebounding leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career 3-point scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career personal fouls leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career free throw percentage leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career free throw scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career minutes played leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career playoff scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career playoff rebounding leaders]]
*[[List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA single-game steals leaders]]
*[[List of NBA single-game playoff scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA franchise career scoring leaders]]
*[[List of NBA seasons played leaders]]
*[[List of European basketball players in the United States]]

==Footnotes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{NBA-profile}}
{{basketballstats|nba=1717|bbr=n/nowitdi01}}
*{{basketball-reference}}
*{{Official website|http://fortyonemagazin.de}}
*[http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=NOWITDI01 Dirk Nowitzki on databasebasketball.com]
*[http://www.dirk-nowitzki-foundation.org/ Official Dirk Nowitzki Foundation]
*[http://dnfoundation.org/ The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation]
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1185851/ Dirk Nowitzki] at [[The Internet Movie Database]]
*[https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/q/Dirk%20NOWITZKI/pid/21377/_//players.html Dirk Nowitzki] at fiba.com


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Latest revision as of 15:24, 1 January 2025

Dirk Nowitzki
Nowitzki in 2019
Dallas Mavericks
PositionSpecial advisor
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1978-06-19) June 19, 1978 (age 46)
Würzburg, West Germany
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
NBA draft1998: 1st round, 9th overall pick
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Playing career1994–2019
PositionPower forward
Number41
Career history
1994–1998DJK Würzburg
19982019Dallas Mavericks
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points31,560 (20.7 ppg)
Rebounds11,489 (7.5 rpg)
Assists3,651 (2.4 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Basketball Hall of Fame
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Germany
World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Indianapolis
EuroBasket
Silver medal – second place 2005 Serbia and Montenegro

Dirk Werner Nowitzki (German pronunciation: [ˈdɪʁk noˈvɪtski], audio; born June 19, 1978) is a German former professional basketball player who is a special advisor for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] Listed at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m),[2] he is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time and is considered by many to be the greatest European player of all time.[a] In 2021, he was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.[3] In 2023, Nowitzki was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.[4][5]

An alumnus of the DJK Würzburg basketball club, Nowitzki was chosen as the ninth pick in the 1998 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he played his entire 21-year NBA career. Nowitzki led the Mavericks to 15 NBA playoff appearances (20012012; 20142016), including the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance in 2006 and its only NBA championship in 2011. Known for his scoring ability, versatility, accurate outside shooting, and trademark one-legged fadeaway jump shot, Nowitzki won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2007 and the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in 2011.

Nowitzki is the only player ever to play for a single NBA franchise for 21 seasons. He is a 14-time All-Star,[6] a 12-time All-NBA Team member,[7] the first European player to start in an All-Star Game,[7] and the first European player to receive the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.[8] Nowitzki is the highest-scoring foreign-born player in NBA history.[9] He is the first Maverick voted onto an All-NBA Team[10] and holds several all-time Mavericks franchise records.[2] On December 10, 2012, he became the first non-American player to receive the Naismith Legacy Award.[11] Following his retirement, Nowitzki stood sixth on the NBA all-time scoring list.[12][13]

In international play, Nowitzki led the Germany national team to a bronze medal in the 2002 FIBA World Championship and silver in EuroBasket 2005, and was the leading scorer and MVP in both tournaments. He is also the first German men's player to have his number retired, receiving this honor in September 2022.

Early life

[edit]

Born in Würzburg, Germany, Dirk Werner Nowitzki comes from an athletic family: his mother Helga Nowitzki (née Bredenbröcker) was a professional basketball player and his father Jörg-Werner was a handball player who represented Germany at the highest international level.[14] Helga was a member of the West Germany national team that participated at the 1966 EuroBasket Women.[15] His older sister Silke Nowitzki, a local champion in track and field, also became a basketball player and now works for the NBA in International TV.[2][16]

Nowitzki was a very tall child; most of the time he stood above his peers by a foot or more.[14] He initially played handball and tennis. He managed to become a ranked junior tennis player in the German youth circuit, but soon grew tired of being called a "freak" for his height and eventually turned to basketball.[17] Watching the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball "Dream Team" also caused Nowitzki to gravitate towards basketball.[18] After joining the local DJK Würzburg, the 15-year-old attracted the attention of former German international basketball player Holger Geschwindner, who spotted his talent immediately and offered to coach him individually two to three times per week. After getting both the approval of Nowitzki and his parents, Geschwindner put his student through an unorthodox training scheme: he emphasized shooting and passing exercises, and shunned weight training and tactical drills, because he felt it was "unnecessary friction".[19] Furthermore, Geschwindner encouraged Nowitzki to play a musical instrument and read literature to make him a more complete personality.[19]

After a year, the coach was so impressed with Nowitzki's progress that he advised him, "You must now decide whether you want to play against the best in the world or just stay a local hero in Germany. If you choose the latter, we will stop training immediately, because nobody can prevent that anymore. But if you want to play against the best, we have to train on a daily basis." After pondering this lifetime decision for two days, Nowitzki agreed to enter the full-time training schedule, choosing the path to his eventual international career. Geschwindner let him train seven days a week with DJK Würzburg players and future German internationals Robert Garrett, Marvin Willoughby, and Demond Greene, and in the summer of 1994, then 16-year-old Nowitzki made the DJK squad.[20]

Professional career

[edit]

DJK Würzburg (1994–1998)

[edit]

When Nowitzki joined the team, DJK played in Germany's second-tier level league, the Second Bundesliga, South Division. His first trainer was Pit Stahl, who played the tall teenager as an outside-scoring forward rather than an inside-scoring center to utilise his shooting skills.[21] In the 1994–95 Second Bundesliga season, ambitious DJK finished as a disappointing sixth of 12 teams; the rookie Nowitzki was often benched and struggled with bad school grades, which forced him to study rather than work on his game.[22] In the next 1995–96 Second Bundesliga season, Nowitzki established himself as a starter next to Finnish star forward Martti Kuisma and soon became a regular double-digit scorer: after German national basketball coach Dirk Bauermann saw him score 24 points in a DJK game, he stated that "Dirk Nowitzki is the greatest German basketball talent of the last 10, maybe 15 years."[23]

In the 1996–97 Second Bundesliga season, Nowitzki averaged 19.4 points per game and led DJK again to second place after the regular season, but could not help his team gain promotion.[24] In the following 1997–98 Second Bundesliga season, Nowitzki finished his "Abitur" (German A-levels), but had to do compulsory military service in the Bundeswehr which lasted from September 1, 1997, to June 30, 1998;[2] The 18-year-old, who had grown to 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) tall, made progress, leading DJK to a 36:4-point total (in Germany, a victory gives 2:0 points and a loss 0:2) and ending as leading scorer with 28.2 points per game. In the promotion playoffs, DJK finally broke its hex, finishing at first place with 14:2 points and earning promotion to the next higher league; Nowitzki was voted "German Basketballer of the Year" by the German BASKET magazine.[25]

Abroad, Nowitzki's progress was noticed. A year later, the teenager participated in the Nike "Hoop Heroes Tour", where he played against NBA stars like Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen. In a 30-minute show match, Nowitzki outplayed Barkley and even dunked on him, causing the latter to exclaim: "The boy is a genius. If he wants to enter the NBA, he can call me."[26] On March 29, 1998, Nowitzki was chosen to play in the Nike Hoop Summit, one of the premier talent watches in U.S. men's basketball. In a match between the U.S. talents and the international talents, Nowitzki scored 33 points on 6-of-12 shooting, 14 rebounds and 3 steals for the internationals[2] and outplayed future US NBA players Rashard Lewis and Al Harrington. He impressed with a combination of quickness, ball handling, and shooting range, and from that moment a multitude of European and NBA clubs wanted to recruit him.[27]

Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019)

[edit]

Difficult start (1998–1999)

[edit]

Projected to be the seventh pick in the 1998 NBA draft, Nowitzki passed up many college offers and went directly into the NBA as a prep-to-pro player.[28] The Milwaukee Bucks selected Nowitzki with the ninth pick in the draft and traded him to the Dallas Mavericks in a multi-team deal; future star point guard Steve Nash came to Dallas in the same trade.[29] Nowitzki and Nash quickly became close friends.[30] Nowitzki became only the fourth German player in NBA history, following pivots Uwe Blab and Christian Welp and All-Star swingman Detlef Schrempf, who was a 35-year-old veteran of the Seattle SuperSonics when his young compatriot arrived. Nowitzki finished his DJK career as the only Würzburg player to have ever made the NBA.[31]

In Dallas, Nowitzki joined a franchise which had last made the playoffs in 1990. Shooting guard Michael Finley captained the squad, supported by 7-foot-6-inch (2.29 m) center Shawn Bradley (once a number two draft pick) and team scoring leader Cedric Ceballos, an ex-Laker forward. The start of the season was delayed by the 1998–99 NBA lockout, which put the entire season in jeopardy. In limbo, Nowitzki returned to DJK Würzburg and played thirteen games before both sides worked out a late compromise deal that resulted in a shortened NBA schedule of only 50 games.[32] When the season finally started, Nowitzki struggled. Played as a power forward by coach Don Nelson, the 20-year-old felt overpowered by the more athletic NBA forwards, was intimidated by the expectations as a number nine pick, and played bad defense; hecklers taunted him as "Irk Nowitzki", omitting the "D" which stands for "defense" in basketball slang.[33] He only averaged 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 20.4 minutes of playing time.[34] Looking back, Nowitzki said: "I was so frustrated I even contemplated going back to Germany. ... [the jump from Second Bundesliga to the NBA] was like jumping out of an airplane hoping the parachute would somehow open." The Mavericks only won 19 of their 50 games and missed the playoffs.[35]

"Big Three" era (1999–2004)

[edit]
1999–00 season: Improving as a sophomore
[edit]

On January 4, 2000, team owner Ross Perot Jr. sold the Mavericks to Internet billionaire Mark Cuban for $280 million. Cuban quickly invested into the Mavericks and restructured the franchise, attending every game at the sidelines, buying the team a $46 million Boeing 757 to travel in, and increasing franchise revenues to over $100 million. Nowitzki lauded Cuban, stating that he "created the perfect environment ... we only have to go out and win."[36] As a result of Nelson's tutelage, Cuban's improvements and his own progress, Nowitzki significantly improved in his second season. Nowitzki averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 35.8 minutes.[34] He was voted runner-up in the NBA Most Improved Player Award behind Jalen Rose, and made it into the NBA All-Star Sophomore squad.[2] The 7-foot-0-inch (2.13 m) Nowitzki also was chosen for the Three-Point Contest, becoming the tallest player ever to participate.[37] While he improved on an individual level, the Mavericks missed the playoffs after a mediocre 40–42 season.[37]

2000–01 season: First All-NBA and playoff appearances
[edit]

In the 2000–01 NBA season, Nowitzki further improved his averages, recording 21.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.[34] As a sign of his growing importance, he joined team captain Finley as only one of two Mavericks to play and start in all 82 games, and had 10 games in which he scored at least 30 points.[2] Nowitzki became the first Maverick ever to be voted into the All-NBA squads, making the Third Team.[2] In addition, his best friend Nash became a valuable point guard, and with Finley scoring more than ever, pundits took to calling this trio the "Big Three" of the Mavericks.[38]

Posting a 53–29 record in the regular season,[39] the Mavericks reached the playoffs for the first time since 1990.[40] As the fifth seed, they were paired against the Utah Jazz, who were led by point guard John Stockton and power forward Karl Malone. The Mavericks won the series in five games, setting up a meeting with their Texas rivals, the San Antonio Spurs.[41] The Mavericks lost the first three games of the series, and Nowitzki fell ill with the flu and later lost a tooth after a collision with Spurs guard Terry Porter. After a Game 4 win, Nowitzki scored 42 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in Game 5, but could not prevent a deciding 105–87 loss.[42]

2001–02 season: First All-Star selection
[edit]

Prior to the 2001–02 NBA season, Nowitzki signed a six-year, $90 million contract extension, which made him the second-highest-paid German athlete after Formula One champion Michael Schumacher.[43] He continued to improve, averaging 23.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Nowitzki was voted into the All-NBA Second Team and into his first All-Star Game.[34] After making the playoffs with a 57–25 record,[44] the Mavericks swept Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round; Nowitzki averaged 33.3 points per game.[45] In the second round, the Mavericks met the Sacramento Kings and rival power forward Chris Webber. After splitting the first two games, Kings coach Rick Adelman changed his defensive scheme, assigning Hedo Türkoğlu to cover Nowitzki. Türkoğlu would use his agility to play Nowitzki tightly, and if the taller Maverick tried to post up Türkoğlu, Webber would double team Nowitzki.[46] In Game 3 in Dallas, the Mavericks lost, 125–119; Nowitzki scored only 19 points and said: "I simply could not pass Türkoğlu, and if I did, I ran into a double team and committed too many turnovers."[46] In Game 4, Nowitzki missed two potentially game-deciding jump shots, and the Mavericks lost, 115–113, at home. In Game 5, the Mavericks were eliminated, 114–101.[47] However, Nowitzki received a consolation award: the Gazzetta dello Sport voted him as "European Basketballer of the Year", his 104 votes lifting him over second-placed Dejan Bodiroga (54) and Stojakovic (50).[48]

2002–03 season: First Western Conference Finals appearance
[edit]

Before the 2002–03 NBA season, Don Nelson and Mark Cuban put more emphasis on defense, specializing in a zone anchored by prolific shotblockers Raef LaFrentz and Shawn Bradley. The Mavericks won their first fourteen games, and Finley, Nash and Nowitzki were voted "Western Conference Players of the Month" in November 2002.[49] In that season, Nowitzki lifted his averages again, now scoring 25.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.[34] He led the Mavericks to a franchise-high 60–22 record, which earned them the third seed: as a result, the Mavericks had to play sixth seed Portland Trail Blazers in the 2003 NBA Playoffs.[50] Now playing in a best-of-seven series instead of the former best-of-five, the Mavericks quickly won the first three games, but then completely lost their rhythm and the next three. In Game 7, Nowitzki hit a clutch three to make it 100–94 with 1:21 left and the Mavericks won 107–95. "This was the most important basket of my career", he later said, "I was not prepared to go on vacation that early."[51] In the next round, the Mavericks met the Kings again, and the series went seven games. Nowitzki delivered a clutch performance in Game 7; he scored 30 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, and played strong defense, leading the Mavericks to a series-deciding 112–99 win.[51] In the Western Conference Finals, the Mavericks met the Spurs again. In Game 3, Nowitzki went up for a rebound and Spurs guard Manu Ginóbili collided with his knee, forcing him out of the series. Without their top scorer, the Mavericks ultimately lost in six games.[52]

2003–04 season: Playoff disappointment
[edit]

After Dallas traded starting center Raef LaFrentz to Boston for forward Antoine Walker, Nelson decided to start Nowitzki at center.[53] To cope with his more physical role, Nowitzki put on 20 lb (9.1 kg) of muscle mass over summer, sacrificed part of his agility, and put more emphasis on defense rather than scoring.[54] Nowitzki's averages fell for the first time in his career, dropping to 21.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game,[34] but he still led the Mavericks in scoring, rebounding, steals (1.2 spg) and blocks (1.35 bpg).[2] These figures earned him nominations for the All-Star Game and the All-NBA Third Team.[34] Compiling a 52–30 record, the Mavericks met their familiar rivals the Sacramento Kings in the playoffs once again, but were eliminated in five games.[55]

Franchise player (2004–2010)

[edit]
Nowitzki (#41) was the face of the Mavericks franchise from 2004 to 2019.
2004–05 season: First All-NBA First Team selection
[edit]

Before the 2004–05 NBA season, the Mavericks were re-tooled again. Center Erick Dampier was acquired from the Golden State Warriors in an eight-player trade.[56] Also, Nowitzki's close friend and fellow international teammate Steve Nash left Dallas and returned to the Phoenix Suns as a free agent,[57] going on to win two Most Valuable Player awards with the Suns.[58] During the season, long-time head coach Don Nelson resigned, and his assistant Avery Johnson took on head coaching duties.[59] In the midst of these changes, Nowitzki stepped up his game and averaged 26.1 points a game (a career high) and 9.7 rebounds; and his 1.5 blocks and 3.1 assists were also career-high numbers.[34] On December 2, 2004, Nowitzki scored 53 points in an overtime win against the Houston Rockets, a career best.[2] Nowitzki was voted to the All-NBA First Team for the first time.[34] He also placed third in the league's MVP voting, behind Nash and Shaquille O'Neal.

However, the Mavericks had a subpar 2005 NBA Playoffs campaign. In the first round, Dallas met Houston Rockets scoring champion Tracy McGrady and 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) center Yao Ming. The Rockets took a 2–0 series lead before the Mavericks won three games in a row. After losing Game 6, Dallas won Game 7 convincingly and won the series even though Nowitzki struggled with his shooting.[60] In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the Mavericks met the Phoenix Suns, the new club of Nash. They split the first four games before the Suns won the last two games. In Game 6, which the Mavericks lost in overtime, Nowitzki was not at his best: he scored 28 points, but also sank only 9 of his 25 field goal attempts[61] and missed all five of his shots in overtime.[62]

2005–06 season: First NBA Finals appearance
[edit]

Prior to the 2005–06 NBA season, veteran Mavericks captain Michael Finley was waived,[63] leaving Nowitzki as the last player remaining from the Mavericks' "Big Three" of Nash, Finley, and himself. Nowitzki averaged 26.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists during the season. Not only was this his third 2,000-point season, but his scoring average of 26.6 points was highest ever by a European.[34] He improved his shooting percentage, setting personal season records in field goals (48.0%), three-point shots (40.6%) and free throws (90.1%).[34] During the 2006 All-Star Weekend in Houston, Nowitzki scored 18 points to defeat Seattle SuperSonics guard Ray Allen and Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas in the Three-Point Contest.[64]

Nowitzki paced Dallas to a 60-win season. The team finished with the third-best record in the league behind the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and the defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons.[65] As in the 2004–05 season, he finished third in the league's MVP voting, this time behind Nash and LeBron James. He was again elected to the first team All-NBA squad.[34] Nowitzki averaged 27.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in the playoffs.[34] In the opening round, the Mavericks swept the Memphis Grizzlies, 4–0, with Nowitzki making a clutch three-pointer in the closing seconds of Game 3 which tied the game and forced overtime. In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the Mavericks played against the San Antonio Spurs again. After splitting the first six games, the Mavericks took a 20-point lead in Game 7 before Spur Manu Ginóbili broke a tie at 101 by hitting a 3 with 30 seconds left. On the next play, Nowitzki completed a three-point play, which tied the game at 104. In the end, the Mavericks won, 119–111, and Nowitzki ended the game with 37 points and 15 rebounds.[66] Nowitzki commented: "I don't know how the ball went in. Manu hit my hand. It was a lucky bounce."[66] The Mavericks advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they again met the Suns. Nowitzki scored a playoff career high 50 points to lead the Mavericks to a victory in the crucial Game 5 with the series tied at 2;[67] the Mavericks won the series in six games and faced the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals. A content Nowitzki commented: "We've been a good road team all season long, we believed in each other. We went through some ups and downs this season, but the playoffs are all about showing heart and playing together."[68] Of Nowitzki's performance, ESPN columnist Bill Simmons wrote, "Dirk is playing at a higher level than any forward since [Larry] Bird."[69]

The Mavericks took an early 2–0 Finals lead, but then gave away a late 15-point lead in a Game 3 loss.[70] Nowitzki only made 20 of his last 55 shots in the final three games as the Mavericks lost the Finals series, 4–2, to the Heat. The German was criticized by ESPN as "clearly ... not as his best this series" and remarked: "That was a tough loss (in Game 3) and that really changed the whole momentum of the series."[71]

2006–07 season: NBA MVP and franchise record in wins
[edit]

In the 2006–07 season, Nowitzki shot a career-best 50.2% from the field, recorded averages of 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists,[34] and led the Mavericks to a franchise-high 67 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference in the 2007 NBA Playoffs.[72] He averaged 50% from the field, 40% for three-pointers, and 90% from the free-throw line, becoming (at the time) only the fifth player in NBA history to join the 50–40–90 club. Nowitzki was touted as the overwhelming favorite for the Most Valuable Player award and was expected to lead the Mavericks to an easy win against the eighth-seed Golden State Warriors, despite the Warriors having won all three regular-season meetings against Dallas. However, the Mavericks ended up losing to the Warriors in six games, marking the first time a No. 8 seed had beaten the No. 1 seed in a best-of-seven series in NBA history.[73] In the clinching Game 6, Nowitzki shot just 2–13 from the field for only eight points.[73] Defended by Stephen Jackson, Nowitzki averaged nearly five points less than his regular-season average in that series and shot 38.3% from the field as compared to 50.2% during the regular season.[34] He described that loss as a low point in his career: "This series, I couldn't put my stamp on it the way I wanted to. That's why I'm very disappointed."[74] In spite of this historic playoffs loss, Nowitzki was named the NBA's regular-season Most Valuable Player and beat his friend and back-to-back NBA MVP Nash with more than 100 votes. He also became the first European player in NBA history to receive the honor.[75]

2007–08 season: First triple-double
[edit]
Nowitzki, 2008
Nowitzki shoots his fade-away jump shot in 2008.

The 2007–08 campaign saw another first-round playoff exit for Nowitzki and the Mavericks. Despite a mid-season trade that brought veteran NBA All-Star Jason Kidd to Dallas, the Mavericks finished seventh in a highly competitive Western Conference. Nowitzki averaged 23.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and a career-high 3.5 assists for the season.[76] In the playoffs, they faced rising star Chris Paul's New Orleans Hornets, and were eliminated in five games.[76] The playoff loss led to the firing of Avery Johnson as head coach and the eventual hiring of Rick Carlisle. The few positive highlights that season for Nowitzki were his first career triple-double against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 6, 2008, with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists, and on March 8, 2008 (34 points against the New Jersey Nets), when he surpassed Rolando Blackman with his 16,644th point to become the Mavericks' all-time career points leader.[77]

2008–09 season: Playoff upset
[edit]

The 2008–09 NBA season saw Nowitzki finish with averages of 25.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He was fourth in the league in scoring, and garnered his fourth All-NBA First Team selection. He also made the 2009 All-Star game, his eighth appearance. Nowitzki led Dallas to a tight finish towards the playoffs, finishing 50–32 for the season (6th in the West), after a slow 2–7 start. In the playoffs, the German led Dallas to an upset win over long-time rival San Antonio (the third seed), winning the first-round series, 4–1. The Mavericks, however, fell short against the Denver Nuggets, 4–1, in the second round, with Nowitzki averaging 34.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 4 assists in the series.

2009–10 season: 20,000 points
[edit]

The Mavericks finished the 2009–10 NBA season as the second seed for the 2010 NBA Playoffs. Notable additions to the squad were multiple All-Stars Shawn Marion and Caron Butler, with the latter coming in the second half of the season. On January 13, 2010, Nowitzki became the 34th player in NBA history—and the first European—to hit the 20,000-point milestone, while ending the regular season with averages of 25 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1 block. He was selected to the 2010 All-Star Game, his ninth appearance. The Mavericks faced off against San Antonio once more in the first round of the playoffs, but for the third time in four seasons, they failed to progress to the next round. Nowitzki became a free agent after the season, but signed a four-year, $80 million deal to remain in Dallas.[78]

Championship season (2010–2011)

[edit]
Nowitzki posting up Rashard Lewis in 2011

Prior to the 2010–11 season, the Mavericks traded for center Tyson Chandler.[79] Nowitzki was injured in the middle of the season, but finished the regular season with averages of 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Despite missing nine games, Nowitzki was selected to the All-Star Game for the tenth time. The Mavericks defeated Portland in the first round of the playoffs and swept the two-time defending champion Lakers in the Conference Semifinals. In the Conference Finals, they faced the Oklahoma City Thunder and their All-NBA duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. In Game 1, Nowitzki scored 48 points and set an NBA record of 24 consecutive free throws made in a game as well as a record for most free throws in a game without a miss. In Game 4, with Dallas leading the series 2–1, Nowitzki scored 40 points to rally his team from a 99–84 fourth-quarter deficit to a 112–105 overtime victory. Dallas won the Western Conference title in Game Five.

In the 2011 NBA Finals, Dallas once again faced the Miami Heat, which had acquired All-Stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh before the season began. During a Game 1 loss in Miami, Nowitzki tore a tendon in his left middle finger; however, MRIs were negative, and Nowitzki vowed that the injury would not be a factor. In Game 2, he led a Dallas rally from an 88–73 fourth-quarter deficit, making a driving left-handed layup over Bosh to tie the series at 1. Miami took a 2–1 series lead after Nowitzki missed a potential game-tying shot at the end of Game 3. Despite carrying a 101 °F (38 °C) fever in Game 4, he hit the winning basket to tie the series yet again at 2, evoking comparisons to Michael Jordan's "Flu Game" against Utah in the 1997 NBA Finals. Dallas went on to win the next two games, with Nowitzki scoring 10 fourth-quarter points in the series-clinching game in Miami. The championship was the first in the history of the franchise.[80] Nowitzki was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.[81]

Post-championship and final years (2011–2019)

[edit]

2011–12 season: Naismith Legacy Award

[edit]

As Dallas celebrated their title, the NBA was in a lockout that ended on December 8, 2011. The defending champions lost core players, such as DeShawn Stevenson, J. J. Barea, Peja Stojaković, and Tyson Chandler, while adding Lamar Odom, Delonte West, and veteran all-star Vince Carter in free agency. The Mavericks played only two preseason games, which led to a slow start for Nowitzki. Nowitzki made his 11th straight All-Star game appearance in Orlando. Nowitzki led his team in scoring 45 times during the season. Nowitzki's streak of 11 seasons with 1,500 points came to an end after scoring 1,342 in the shortened NBA season. Dallas clinched the seventh spot in the West, and were matched against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. The Thunder swept the Mavericks in four games.

2012–13 season: Surgery and missing playoffs

[edit]
Nowitzki in 2013

Before the season, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry left the Mavericks in free agency. Nowitzki underwent knee surgery in October 2012 and missed the first 27 games of the season.[82] He returned on December 23, 2012, in a game against San Antonio.[83] In January 2013, Nowitzki and some of his teammates made a pact not to shave their beards until the team reached .500. They were often called "The Beard Bros."[84] On April 14, 2013, after a fadeaway jumper in a game against the New Orleans Hornets, Nowitzki became the 17th player in NBA history to score 25,000 points. The Mavs went on to win the game and climbed back to .500 with a 40–40 record, and Nowitzki shaved his beard.[85] However the Mavericks missed the playoffs for the first time since Nowitzki's second season, ending their 12-year playoff streak.

2013–14 season: Magic Johnson Award

[edit]

On January 29, 2014, Nowitzki scored his 26,000th point in a 115–117 loss to the Houston Rockets. In 35 minutes of play, he recorded 38 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 assists.[86] On March 12, 2014, in a 108–101 victory over the Utah Jazz, Nowitzki finished the game with 31 points and passed John Havlicek on the NBA scoring list with 26,426 points.[87] On April 8, 2014, Nowitzki scored his 26,712th point, passing Oscar Robertson to move to the 10th position on the all-time scoring list.[88] Nowitzki led the Mavericks back to the playoffs where they faced their in-state rival San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Dallas lost the series in seven games, and the Spurs went on to win the NBA championship.

2014–15 season: 10,000 rebounds

[edit]

On July 15, 2014, Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks[89] to a reported three-year, $25 million contract. He was also reunited with former championship teammate Tyson Chandler, who was traded to Dallas after a three-year stint with New York. However, longtime teammate Shawn Marion signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers before the season.[90]

On November 11, 2014, Nowitzki scored 23 points to surpass Hakeem Olajuwon as the highest-scoring player born outside the United States, as the Mavericks came from 24 points down to defeat Sacramento, 106–98. Nowitzki hit a jumper from just inside the three-point line early in the fourth quarter to pass Olajuwon at No. 9, and he finished the night at 26,953 career points.[91][92] Six days later, Nowitzki became the fourth player in NBA history to eclipse 27,000 career points with the same franchise, joining Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant.[93] On December 26 against the Los Angeles Lakers, Nowitzki passed Elvin Hayes for eighth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.[94] He went on to pass Moses Malone for seventh place on the NBA's all-time scoring list on January 5, 2015, in a 96–88 overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets.[95] He recorded his 10,000th career rebound on March 24 against the San Antonio Spurs,[96] and scored his 28,000th career point on April 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.[97]

The Mavericks finished the regular season as the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference with a record of 50–32. They faced the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs and lost the series in five games.

2015–16 season: Final playoff appearance

[edit]

On November 11, 2015, Nowitzki scored a season-high 31 points in a 118–108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and passed former teammate Shawn Marion for 15th on the all-time career rebounding list.[98] On December 23, Nowitzki moved past Shaquille O'Neal into sixth place on the NBA's career scoring list, then made the go-ahead basket with 19.2 seconds left in overtime to help the Mavericks defeat the Brooklyn Nets, 119–118.[99][100] On February 21, he scored 18 points against the Philadelphia 76ers, becoming the sixth player in NBA history to reach 29,000 career points.[101] On March 20, he set a new season high with 40 points in a 132–120 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers. His 20th career 40-point game was his first since January 2014, and the first by a 37-year-old since Karl Malone in 2000–01.[102]

In Game 4 of the Mavericks' first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nowitzki passed Elgin Baylor (3,623 points) for 15th on the NBA's career playoff scoring list.[103] The Mavericks lost the series four games to one.[104]

2016–17 season: NBA Teammate of the Year and 30,000 points

[edit]

On July 27, 2016, Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks.[105] Nowitzki missed several games early in the season with Achilles tendon problems.[106][107] On March 7, 2017, in a 122–111 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Nowitzki became the sixth player in NBA history to score 30,000 regular-season points. He also became the first international player to reach the milestone and one of only three to score all 30,000-plus with one team—the others being Karl Malone (Utah Jazz) and Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers).[108] The Mavericks finished the season with a 33–49 record and missed the NBA Playoffs.[109]

Following the 2016–17 season, Nowitzki exercised his player option to become a free agent; this move allowed the Mavericks to re-sign him with less money and be able to pursue other free agents.[110]

2017–18 season: Season-ending surgery

[edit]

On July 6, 2017, Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks on a two-year, $10 million contract (with a team option on the second year).[111][112] On February 5, 2018, in a 104–101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Nowitzki became the sixth player in NBA history to reach 50,000 career minutes.[113] On February 28, 2018, in a 111–110 overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nowitzki reached 31,000 career points.[114] On March 17, 2018, in a 114–106 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Nowitzki played in his 1,463rd game, moving past Kevin Garnett into fifth place in the NBA career list.[115] He had season-ending ankle surgery on April 5 after appearing in 77 of the first 78 games.[116] The Mavericks finished the season with a 24–58 record and missed the NBA Playoffs.[117]

2018–19 season: Final season

[edit]

On July 23, 2018, Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks for the 2018–19 season.[118][119] With his season debut on December 13, 2018, he set the NBA record for the most seasons played with the same team (21), breaking a tie with Kobe Bryant, who spent 20 seasons with the Lakers. He also became the fifth player in NBA history to play 21 seasons, tying an NBA record.[120] Nowitzki was named to his 14th All-Star game as a special team roster addition.[121][122] On March 18, 2019, Nowitzki became the sixth-highest scoring player of all time, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's 31,419 points in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.[123] In his team's final home game of the season, a 120–109 victory over the Phoenix Suns on April 9, Nowitzki scored 30 points, and announced his retirement in an emotional ceremony during which Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Shawn Kemp, Scottie Pippen, and Detlef Schrempf appeared on the court to give laudatory speeches for Nowitzki.[124][125] One day later, he played his final NBA game, recording a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 105–94 loss to the Spurs.[126]

National team career

[edit]
Nowitzki played for the German national basketball team from 1997 to 2015.

Nowitzki began playing for the German national basketball team in 1997. In his debut tournament, the EuroBasket 1999, the 21-year-old rookie emerged as the main German scorer, but Germany finished seventh and failed to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games.[127] In the EuroBasket 2001, Nowitzki was top scorer with 28.7 points per game, and narrowly lost the MVP vote to Serbian player Peja Stojaković. Germany reached the semi-finals and were close to beating host nation Turkey, but Hedo Türkoğlu hit a three-point buzzer beater to tie it, and the Turks eventually won in overtime.[128] Germany then lost, 99–90, against Spain, and did not win a medal. However, with averages of 28.7 points and 9.1 rebounds, Nowitzki led the tournament in both statistics, and was voted to the All-Star team.[129] Back home, the German basketball team attracted up to 3.7 million television viewers, a German basketball record at the time.[128]

Nowitzki earned his first medal when he led Germany to a bronze medal in the 2002 FIBA World Championship. In the quarter-finals against the Pau Gasol-led Spain, Spain was up 52–46 after three-quarters, but then Nowitzki scored 10 points in the last quarter and led Germany to a 70–62 win.[130] In the semi-finals, his team played against the Argentinian team led by Manu Ginóbili, but despite leading, 74–69, four minutes from the end and despite Argentina losing Ginobili to a foot injury, the South Americans won, 86–80.[130] However, the Germans won 117–94 against New Zealand in the consolation finals and won bronze, and Nowitzki, as the tournament's top scorer, (24.0 points per game),[131] was elected the tournament MVP. Back in Germany, over four million television viewers followed the games, an all-time record in German basketball history.[130]

In a preparation game for EuroBasket 2003, Nowitzki suffered a foot injury after a collision with French player Florent Piétrus; as a result, Nowitzki played inconsistently and was also often target of hard fouls.[132] In the decisive second-round match against Italy (only the winner was allowed to play the medal round), Germany lost, 86–84, finished ninth and did not qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games. Nowitzki scored 22.5 points per game (third overall), but in general seemed to lack focus and dominance due to his injury.[132]

In the EuroBasket 2005, Nowitzki led a depleted German squad into the Finals, beating title favorites Slovenia in the quarter-finals and Spain in the semi-finals on the way. EuroBasket pundits praised Nowitzki in both matches: against Slovenia (76–62), the forward scored a game-high 22 points and commented: "The Slovenians underestimated us. They said we were the team they wanted and that was wrong, you shouldn't do that in the quarter-finals."[133] Against Spain (74–73), Nowitzki scored a game-high 27 points and scored the decisive basket: down by one and with only a few seconds to go, he drove on Spanish forward Jorge Garbajosa, and hit a baseline jump shot over Garbajosa's outstretched arms with 3.9 seconds to go. The German later commented: "It was indescribable. Garbajosa kind of pushed me towards the baseline so I just went with it."[133] Despite losing the Finals, 78–62, to the Greeks, Nowitzki was the tournament's leading scorer (26.1 per game),[134] and second-leading rebounder (10.6 per game), and shot blocker (1.9 per game), and he was also voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.[135] When he was subbed out towards the end of the final, Nowitzki received a standing ovation from the crowd, which he later recalled as "one of the best moments of [his] career".[136] The German team was awarded a silver medal.[137]

In the 2006 FIBA World Championship, Nowitzki led the German team to an eighth place and commented: "It's tough luck. But overall, finishing eighth in the world is not bad."[138]

Nowitzki playing for Germany in 2015

In the EuroBasket 2007, in which the top three teams automatically qualified for the 2008 Olympics, Nowitzki led Germany to a fifth place. He was the leading scorer with 24.0 points per game.[139] The fifth place meant that Germany fell short of direct qualification, but was allowed to participate in the 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Nowitzki led Germany into a decisive match against Puerto Rico for the last remaining slot. In that crucial match, he scored a game-high 32 points and was vital for the 96–82 win which sent the German basketball team to their first Olympics since the 1992 Summer Olympics.[140] Nowitzki was chosen to be the flag bearer for the German Olympic Team at the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Olympics. Nowitzki led the German team to a tenth-place finish, and averaged 17.0 points and 8.4 rebounds for the tournament.[141][142]

In 2009, Nowitzki skipped the EuroBasket 2009. In July 2010, he said that he would skip the 2010 FIBA World Championship. In summer 2011, Nowitzki played with Germany in the EuroBasket 2011, where the team reached ninth place. In 2015, Nowitzki captained Germany at the EuroBasket. They won only one game, and were eliminated in the group stage, on home soil.[143] In January 2016, Nowitzki officially announced his retirement from Germany's national team.[144][145] In his career with Germany's senior men's national team, he averaged 19.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.[146]

Nowitzki was named the Euroscar European Basketball Player of the Year by the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport for five years running from 2002 to 2006 and again in 2011.[147] He was also named the Mister Europa European Player of the Year by the Italian sports magazine Superbasket in 2005, and the FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year twice in 2005 and 2011.[2] He was named to the FIBA EuroBasket 2000–2020 Dream Team in 2020.[148]

The German Basketball Federation (DBB) honored Nowitzki with a jersey (number 14)[b] retirement in September 2022, ahead of EuroBasket 2022.[149] The ceremony was held on September 2, immediately before Germany's EuroBasket opening game against France in Cologne. DBB also announced that a replica of Nowitzki's national team jersey would hang from the arena rafters at all future Germany men's home games.[150]

Player profile

[edit]
Nowitzki shooting a free-throw against the Charlotte Bobcats on November 11, 2005

Nowitzki was a versatile frontcourt player who mostly played the power forward, but also played center and small forward in his career. An exceptional shooter for his size, Nowitzki made 88% of his free throws, nearly 50% of his field goal attempts and nearly 40% of his 3-point shots, and won the 2006 NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest.[34] In the 2006–07 season, Nowitzki became only the fifth member of the NBA's 50–40–90 Club for players who shot 50% or better from the field, 40% or better on three-pointers, and 90% or better on free-throws in a single season while achieving the NBA league minimum number of makes in each category.[151]

Nowitzki's shooting accuracy, combined with his long seven-foot frame and unique shooting mechanics (such as having a release point above his head), made his jump shots difficult to contest. Before the start of the 2011 NBA Finals, LeBron James called Nowitzki's one-legged fadeaway the second most unstoppable move ever, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's skyhook.[152] Additionally, Nowitzki could drive to the basket from the perimeter like few men his size were able to do.[153] NBA.com lauded his versatility by stating: "The 7–0 forward who at times mans the pivot can strike fear in an opponent when he corrals a rebound and leads the break or prepares to launch a three-point bomb."[2] Charles Barkley said the best way to guard Nowitzki was to "get a cigarette and a blindfold".[154] Later on in his career, Nowitzki also developed an unorthodox post-up game, often backing down his opponents from the free-throw line or near the middle of the key, opening up the floor for multiple passing angles should a double team come his way.[citation needed] In 2022, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Nowitzki as the 21st greatest player in NBA history.[155]

Nowitzki was the sixth player in NBA history, and the first European, to hit the 30,000-point milestone.[13] Apart from being the Mavericks' all-time leader in points, rebounds, field goals, field goal attempts, 3-pointers, 3-point attempts, blocks, free throws, and free-throw attempts, Nowitzki made the NBA All-Star games fourteen times and the All-NBA Teams twelve times. He was voted NBA MVP of the 2006–07 NBA season, becoming the first European player to receive the honor, as well as the MVP of the 2011 NBA Finals. Other achievements include winning the 2006 Three-Point Contest and the 2017 NBA Teammate of the Year award, being voted European Basketballer of the Year five times in a row by La Gazzetta dello Sport. He was the leading scorer and MVP of the 2002 FIBA World Championship, and EuroBasket 2005 tournaments.[156][157]

Nowitzki is the only player to record at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, 1,200 steals, 1,250 blocks and 1,500 three-point field goals.[158]

NBA career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship  *  Led the league

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1998–99 Dallas 47 24 20.4 .405 .206 .773 3.4 1.0 .6 .6 8.2
1999–00 Dallas 82 81 35.8 .461 .379 .830 6.5 2.5 .8 .8 17.5
2000–01 Dallas 82 82* 38.1 .474 .387 .838 9.2 2.1 1.0 1.2 21.8
2001–02 Dallas 76 76 38.0 .477 .397 .853 9.9 2.4 1.1 1.0 23.4
2002–03 Dallas 80 80 39.0 .463 .379 .881 9.9 3.0 1.4 1.0 25.1
2003–04 Dallas 77 77 37.9 .462 .341 .877 8.7 2.7 1.2 1.4 21.8
2004–05 Dallas 78 78 38.7 .459 .399 .869 9.7 3.1 1.2 1.5 26.1
2005–06 Dallas 81 81 38.1 .480 .406 .901 9.0 2.8 .7 1.0 26.6
2006–07 Dallas 78 78 36.2 .502 .416 .904 8.9 3.4 .7 .8 24.6
2007–08 Dallas 77 77 36.0 .479 .359 .879 8.6 3.5 .7 .9 23.6
2008–09 Dallas 81 81 37.7 .479 .359 .890 8.4 2.4 .8 .8 25.9
2009–10 Dallas 81 80 37.5 .481 .421 .915 7.7 2.7 .9 1.0 25.0
2010–11 Dallas 73 73 34.3 .517 .393 .892 7.0 2.6 .5 .6 23.0
2011–12 Dallas 62 62 33.5 .457 .368 .896 6.8 2.2 .7 .5 21.6
2012–13 Dallas 53 47 31.3 .471 .414 .860 6.8 2.5 .7 .7 17.3
2013–14 Dallas 80 80 32.9 .497 .398 .899 6.2 2.7 .9 .6 21.7
2014–15 Dallas 77 77 29.6 .459 .380 .882 5.9 1.9 .5 .4 17.3
2015–16 Dallas 75 75 31.5 .448 .368 .893 6.5 1.8 .7 .7 18.3
2016–17 Dallas 54 54 26.4 .437 .378 .875 6.5 1.5 .6 .7 14.2
2017–18 Dallas 77 77 24.7 .456 .409 .898 5.7 1.6 .6 .6 12.0
2018–19 Dallas 51 20 15.6 .359 .312 .780 3.1 .7 .2 .4 7.3
Career 1,522 1,460 33.8 .471 .380 .879 7.5 2.4 .8 .8 20.7
All-Star 14 2 16.2 .450 .290 .875 3.7 1.1 .7 .4 8.7

Playoffs

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2001 Dallas 10 10 39.9 .423 .283 .883 8.1 1.4 1.1 .8 23.4
2002 Dallas 8 8 44.6 .445 .571 .878 13.1 2.3 2.0 .8 28.4
2003 Dallas 17 17 42.5 .479 .443 .912 11.5 2.2 1.2 .9 25.3
2004 Dallas 5 5 42.4 .450 .467 .857 11.8 1.4 1.4 2.6 26.6
2005 Dallas 13 13 42.4 .402 .333 .829 10.1 3.3 1.4 1.6 23.7
2006 Dallas 23 23 42.7 .468 .343 .895 11.7 2.9 1.1 .6 27.0
2007 Dallas 6 6 39.8 .383 .211 .840 11.3 2.3 1.8 1.3 19.7
2008 Dallas 5 5 42.2 .473 .333 .808 12.0 4.0 .2 1.4 26.8
2009 Dallas 10 10 39.5 .518 .286 .925 10.1 3.1 .9 .8 26.8
2010 Dallas 6 6 38.8 .547 .571 .952 8.2 3.0 .8 .7 26.7
2011 Dallas 21 21 39.3 .485 .460 .941 8.1 2.5 .6 .6 27.7
2012 Dallas 4 4 38.5 .442 .167 .905 6.3 1.8 .8 .0 26.8
2014 Dallas 7 7 37.6 .429 .083 .806 8.0 1.6 .9 .9 19.1
2015 Dallas 5 5 36.2 .452 .235 .929 10.2 2.4 .4 .4 21.2
2016 Dallas 5 5 34.0 .494 .364 .941 5.0 1.6 .4 .6 20.4
Career 145 145 40.7 .462 .365 .892 10.0 2.5 1.0 .9 25.3

Career highlights

[edit]
NBA
  • NBA Finals MVP: 2011
  • NBA Most Valuable Player: 2007
  • 14× NBA All-Star: 2002–2012, 2014–2015, 2019
  • 12× All-NBA Team: 2001–2012
    • 4× First Team: 2005–2007, 2009
    • 5× Second Team: 2002–2003, 2008, 2010–2011
    • 3× Third Team: 2001, 2004, 2012
  • NBA Three-Point Contest champion: 2006
  • NBA Shooting Stars champion: 2010[159]
  • NBA Teammate of the Year: 2017
  • Ranked 6th in all-time-scoring[13]
  • Ranked 5th in all-time defensive-rebounds[160]
  • Ranked 2nd in all-time NBA Finals free throw percentage[161]
  • 82 consecutive free throws made in the regular season (the third-longest streak of all time)[162]
  • 26 consecutive free throws made in the Finals (longest streak of all time)[163]
  • One of three players with at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, 1,000 steals and 1,000 blocks[164]
  • One of two players with 150 three-pointers and 100 blocks in a single season: 2001[165]
  • One of four players with an NBA Playoff career average of 25 ppg and 10 rpg (25.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg)[166]
  • One of eight members of the 50–40–90 club: 2007
  • One of three players to surpass the mark of 1,000 in both three-pointers and blocks for the career[167]
  • One of four players to surpass the marks of 30,000 in points and 10,000 in rebounds for the career[168]
  • Holds the record for most free-throws made in a single playoff season with 205 free-throws made: 2006[169]
  • Dallas Mavericks all-time statistical leader in games, seasons, points, rebounds, blocks, field goals, three-point field goals and free throws[170]
  • NBA record for most seasons with one team (21) and games played in a career spent with only one team (1,522)
German national basketball team
Other achievements and highlights

Personal life

[edit]

Nowitzki's older sister, Silke Nowitzki, described Nowitzki as a confident but low-key character, unspoiled by money and fame.[175] He enjoys reading and playing the saxophone.[2] Nowitzki passed his Abitur examination at Röntgen Gymnasium Grammar School of Würzburg. He founded the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, a charity which aims at fighting poverty in Africa.[176]

Nowitzki dated Sybille Gerer, a female basketball player from his local club DJK Würzburg. The relationship started in 1992 and lasted for 10 years before it ended in 2002; Nowitzki said, "At the end, we found out we developed in separate ways. ... It did not work anymore, but we are still good friends."[177] He added: "I surely want to start a family and have kids, but I cannot imagine it happening before I become 30."[177]

In 2010, Nowitzki met and began dating Jessica Olsson, sister of twin footballers Martin Olsson and Marcus Olsson.[178] The couple got married on July 20, 2012, at Nowitzki's home in Dallas.[179] They have a daughter, born in July 2013[180] and two sons, born in March 2015 and November 2016.[181] Though Nowitzki has considered acquiring U.S. citizenship, he remains a German national.[182] In 2021 he received the green card.[183]

Nowitzki acknowledged close ties to his mentor Holger Geschwindner, whom he called his best friend. He is also good friends with his ex-teammate Steve Nash.[184] Nash said of playing with Nowitzki, "We were both joining a new club, living in a new city, we were both single and outsiders: this creates a bond ... He made life easier for me and I for him ... Our friendship was something solid in a very volatile world." Nowitzki added, "He would have also become a good friend if we had met at the supermarket."[184]

Nowitzki is a keen association football fan and an avid supporter of Arsenal F.C.[185]

Books

[edit]

Nowitzki's career has been chronicled in books. Dirk Nowitzki: German Wunderkind, written by German sports journalists Dino Reisner and Holger Sauer, was published in 2004 by CoPress Munich. The 160-page hardcover book follows Nowitzki's beginnings in his native Würzburg, documents his entry into and ascent within the NBA, and ends at the beginning of the 2004–05 NBA season.

In November 2011, the Würzburg local newspaper Main-Post published a 216-page book written by its sports journalists Jürgen Höpfl and Fabian Frühwirth: Einfach Er – Dirk Nowitzki – Aus Würzburg an die Weltspitze, (Just Him – Dirk Nowitzki – From Würzburg to the Top of the World).[186] Both Höpfl and Frühwirth accompanied Nowitzki throughout his career, collecting interviews and photos used in the book. It looks back on the 2011 NBA Finals but also has a strong focus on Nowitzki's relation to his hometown Würzburg and his career progression which began there. The book features insights from former coaches, family members, and friends.

In 2019, Thomas Pletzinger published the 502-page biography The Great Nowitzki, which was regarded as one of the best sports biographies to have ever been published in German.[187][188]

[edit]

In 2014, the film documentary Nowitzki. The Perfect Shot was released, which retells Nowitzki's career and life.[189]

Honors

[edit]

On October 30, 2019, by a unanimous resolution of the Dallas City Council, part of Olive Street was renamed Nowitzki Way, which runs past the American Airlines Center.[190][191] In December 2019, Nowitzki received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in recognition of his social commitment.[192]

On January 5, 2022, Nowitzki's number 41 was retired by the Mavericks.[193] The same night, Mark Cuban unveiled the design for a statue of Nowitzki that was planned to be installed outside the American Airlines Center in Dallas.[194] The statue was unveiled on Christmas Day later that year.[195]

Dirk Nowitzki statue in Frankfurt [de]

A different Dirk Nowitzki statue in Frankfurt [de] was unveiled on October 12, 2023, in recognition of Nowitzki's long-term advertising activities by the CEO of the ING Germany in the presence of Nowitzki in Frankfurt. The statue made by the sculptor Andreas Artur Hoferick of bronze, slightly over life size, shows Nowitzki sitting on a wooden bench on one side. The position on the bench is said to invite passersby to take space next to the athlete.[196]

See also

[edit]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^
    • "Top 10 power forwards in NBA history". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
    • "All-Time #NBArank: Duncan tops list of best power forwards ever". ESPN. January 15, 2016. Archived from the original on June 11, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
    • "Best European Basketball Players of All Time". latestbasketballnews.com. January 13, 2018. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
    • "Ranking 50 Greatest European Players in NBA History". NBA.com. May 19, 2021. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
    • "40 greatest European players ever: The HoopsHype list". HoopsHype. January 11, 2022. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
    • "Greatest European basketball players of all-time: from Dirk Nowitzki to Drazen Petrovic". Basketnews. January 13, 2022. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
    • "Top 25 European Basketball Players Of All-Time". Home of Playmaker. January 17, 2022. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
    • Bailey, Andy (June 18, 2024). "Ranking the Top 50 NBA Playoff Performers of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  2. ^ FIBA only allowed player numbers between 4 and 15 for international matches until 2018, after Nowitzki had retired from international play.

References

[edit]
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