The SID calendar sheet on June 12th: Nowitzki becomes NBA champion

When his teammates from the Dallas Mavericks let the clock run down on the field, only to fall into each other’s arms shortly afterwards, the man from Würzburg jumps over an advertising strip at the side. He fights his way through a crowd of applauding fans at a quick pace.

On the way Nowitzki claps with a spectator, then the captain of the Mavs disappears in the player tunnel. With his hands clasped over his head, he buries his face in the bright blue jersey, as if he could hardly believe this historic success himself: Five years after the bitter final defeat against Miami Heat, Nowitzki finally reached the goal in the repeat of the duel on June 12, 2011 : He is the first German champion in the North American professional basketball league NBA.

The Mavericks won the final series against the Heat at the American Airlines Arena in Miami by a 105: 95 in game six. In front of 20,003 spectators, Nowitzki remained pale for long stretches. But in the last quarter the “German Wunderkind” turned up, made ten of its 21 points and helped the Texans to their first and to this day only championship.

Nowitzki is only the second European after Tony Parker (2007) to receive the final MVP award: the maximum appreciation of his personal contribution to this triumph.

The long-awaited redress for 2006, when the Mavs missed the coronation despite a 2-0 lead against the Heat, finally succeeded. At that time Nowitzki was sharply criticized for his performance. Five years later, at 32, he finally made it to the top.