Dirk Nowitzki (Wurzburg, Germany, 1978), retired at the end of 2019, coincided only one year with Luka Doncic in Dallas, but that time and what he has seen in the next two seasons are enough to know that he is against a single player, than to surpass to all even to the same one. The German has built a legendary career that is now rewarded by sharing the cover of the NBA 2K22 with Kareem Abdul-Jab
Bar and Kevin Durant at the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Edition.
Question. Have you ever said that Luka Doncic is your favorite player today. Answer.
Yes, it is. He is a special player, a lot of fun for the viewer to watch. I think sometimes he doesn’t even know what he’s going to do next and that gets the fan hooked. He has a knack for making spectacular plays.
Q. Do you think you have the potential to be a regular league MVP? R.
I’m sure it is. The boy is 22 years old and already at an incredible level. He has already been a candidate for that award and they will soon give it to him. At his age he has the complete pack: he reads the game wonderfully, shoots well, penetrates, posts to the guards who cannot defend him, plays the pick and roll very well … He is a very versatile player and can still improve. It is terrifying to think how far it can go. There are no limits for him, he will be unique. ”
Q. What do you think of the Dream Team for the Games? Is it the favorite? R.
The USA is always the favorite in any basketball championship. The unknown is that these are going to be different Games, without an audience, in bubbles, with all the precautions for the pandemic. Be a different experience. And there can always be surprises, there are great teams that want gold. They will have to give their best, but they are favorites.
Q. Do you have the feeling that, because of your game, the NBA today would have been better for you? R.
I think yes, at this time I could have adapted very well. It is played very open and there are times when a team has three, four or five shooters on the court at the same time. I think it’s more fun now although I can’t complain, I played for 20 years. But I would have liked to play now.
Q. What is your historical ideal quintet of international players in the NBA? R.
Very difficult to choose five. I’m old school so I grew up watching Detlef Schrempf, Drazen Petrovic, I loved Toni Kukoc, or Sabonis at their best. And without forgetting Pau Gasol, with whom I have met over time. He would also have to choose Oscar Schmidt, who although he was not in the NBA, had an incredible career.
P. More difficult. Pick four players from history for the NBA’s Mount Rushmore. R.
Complicated too. Obviously Michael Jordan, Magic and Larry Bird. And he would bring in Lebron, but he would also have to choose Kobe.
Q. Now it is easier to get to the NBA from Europe than in its days …
Undoubtedly. I have been able to witness an enormous globalization these 20 years. Now the League is better known, you know where you are going to go, not before. Basketball has evolved all over the world and European players, who are now more physical, maintain their fundamentals and are connecting much better and faster to the NBA. They also have an increasing impact on teams.
P. A whole career in a team, Dallas … that is no longer seen in the NBA R.
Well, there were many circumstances such as the support of the public, the confidence of the team and the fact that they made sure that he succeeded there. Then it had a lot to do with my loyalty, Mark Cuban arrived, with whom I have a great friendship, and I was able to return all that to them with a championship, which is certainly the best memory of my career.
Q. And, other than the Mavs, what is your favorite ‘other’ NBA team? R.
When I started playing I was a fan of the Chicago Bulls. You know, when I was 12 or 13 I started in the 90’s and then the Bulls were the dominators with Jordan, Pippen, Kukoc or Rodman. The Bulls have always been one of my favorites, but obviously I’m only interested in the Mavericks right now and it will always be that way.
Q. Speaking of Dallas, what made that team so special in 2011 when you won the ring? R.
We have great chemistry. There were a number of veterans who had been successful on their teams and came up with the idea of winning. Then others, as in my case, we reached our best moment in that season and everything came together in a team with a lot of confidence in the Playoffs.
Two ‘Mavs’ on this year’s NBA 2K22 cover
Dirk Nowitzki shares the cover of the 75th Anniversary Edition with Abdul-Jabbar and Durant. “I have never seen myself as a legend, but it is an honor to be there with two of the best players in the history of the NBA. And on top of that Luka is in the other edition, that is, two Mavs players on the cover on same year. I am very proud of my presence as well as Doncic’s, who has achieved it in just three years. ”
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