Dirk Nowitzki
 | |
| Dallas Mavericks | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward, Small forward, Center |
| Personal information | |
| Born | June 19, 1978 Würzburg, Germany |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 1998: 9th overall |
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Playing career | 1998–present |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Six-time All-Star Seven-time All-NBA 2002 World Championships MVP 2005 EuroBasket MVP 2006 All-Star Three-Point Shootout Champion 2007 NBA Most Valuable Player | |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Dirk Werner Nowitzki (IPA pronuncation: [no'vɪtski]) (born June 19, 1978 in Würzburg, Germany) is a German basketball player for the United States' National Basketball Association's (NBA) Dallas Mavericks. Standing at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), Nowitzki is an all-purpose forward, able to play any position in the frontcourt (center, power forward, or small forward).
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 "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 German-born player (after Detlef Schrempf) to make it to the Finals.
In May 2007, Nowitzki became the first European-born player in NBA history to receive the league's Most Valuable Player award.[1]
Early life
A native of Würzburg, Nowitzki came from an athletic family; his father Jörg was a 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.[2]
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."
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 U.S. junior team.[3]
NBA career
Early years
Nowitzki 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 "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.
Mavs GM Don Nelson touted Nowitzki as the sure-fire 1998-99 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, when he averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, finishing second in voting for the league's Most Improved Player.
The following 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.
The All-Star
In 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 German national team that finished third at the FIBA World Championships in Indianapolis and was named the tournament MVP.
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.
He suffered through nagging ankle injuries in 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.
The franchise player
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.
Nowitzki was voted to the first team All-NBA squad for the 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.
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.
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, Nowitzki scored 18 points to defeat Seattle SuperSonics guard Ray Allen and Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas in the Three-Point Shootout contest.
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 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.
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 Bird."[4] 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.
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.[5] 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.
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.
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).
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. [6] 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."[7]
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 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.
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).
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.[8][9]
Awards/achievements
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.
Personal life
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.
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.
Trivia
- Nowitzki once jokingly remarked that he hums the tune "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, 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.[10]
- Nowitzki used to play with number 14 in Germany and switched the figures to 41 when he entered the NBA.
Notes
- ^ Nowitzki is first European to be named MVP, published May 16, 2007
- ^ http://www.pennlive.com/sports/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1149730812248920.xml&coll=1&thispage=5
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=2471369
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060602
- ^ http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6772758?print=true
- ^ "Dirk Nowitzki Wins 2006-07 MVP Award"
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/news/story?id=2859854
- ^ http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html
- ^ http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nowitdi01.html
- ^ Baywatch revival? Dirk hums Hasselhoff song to relax espn.com May 18, 2006