On Christmas Day, the NBA franchise Dallas Mavericks bestowed a special honor on its greatest player in club history: the Texans unveiled a statue of the basketball icon in front of the arena.
Next milestone in Dirk Nowitzki’s life: A statue was dedicated to the 44-year-old from Würzburg on Sunday. “She looks incredible,” said the visibly moved Nowitzki after the unveiling in front of the American Airlines Center, which was attended by numerous fans. “Thank you for all the support.”
The moment he was allowed to see the statue for the first time was “very special and very emotional,” said Nowitzki. “This thing will be here forever.”
The statue on the Nowitzki Way leading to the arena shows the German doing his typical “One Leg Fadeaway”. Nowitzki jumped back, kept his balance with one leg and threw out of this movement.
Dirk Nowitzki played in the NBA for 21 years, playing exclusively for the Dallas Mavericks. The biggest success was winning the NBA title in 2011 – the first in the club’s history. Nowitzki was also named Final Series MVP at the time.
Dirk Nowitzki one of the greatest athletes in Germany
Nowitzki is also one of just seven players in history to have scored 30,000 points or more in the NBA. At the end of his career, which ended in 2019, the then 40-year-old had 31,560 points on his account.
The Dallas Mavericks honored the German about a year ago. His jersey with the number 41 has been hanging under the roof of the arena ever since and is no longer given to other players. In December 2022, he was also nominated for induction into the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 2008, Germany’s best basketball player of all time was allowed to carry the flag of the German selection at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing. He celebrated his greatest success with the DBB at the 2002 World Cup when he led the team to bronze. At the 2005 European Championship, his team only lost to Greece in the final, but he was nevertheless named MVP.
