German NBA star Dirk Nowitzki has ended his unique basketball career. After his final Dallas Mavericks game, Nowitzki spoke to DW about his emotions, his children and why San Antonio was a special place for his farewell.
Dirk Nowitzki: I'm fine now, but there certainly were a few emotional moments. The video before the game was incredible [Nowitzki was moved to tears when San Antonio showed a clip of his career highlights on the big screen — the ed] and after the match as well, when it dawned on me that everything was finally over. I tried to keep my feelings in check as far as possible, but it proved quite difficult.
You left the court to a standing ovation. Was that the way you wanted your career to end?
It was as good as it could have been without the playoffs. Of course, I would have loved to have had my final game at home. Tuesday would have been the perfect time [In the final home game of the season against Phoenix, Nowitzki announced his retirement — the ed]. But the scenes here were incredible. Even though we were playing away, it felt and sounded like a home game. The "MVP" chants were so loud when I stepped up to take free throws. So I'm delighted it was such an unbelievable experience.
Dirk Nowitzki's NBA career is about to draw to a close after he announced his retirement at the age of 40. We look back at the career of Germany's greatest-ever basketball player.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Gebert
It's over
In the final home game of his career, Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-high 30 points as his Dallas Mavericks beat the Phoenix Suns 120-109. After the game, the German announced that he would retire following their season finale in San Antonio. He was joined at a post-game ceremony by NBA legends Larry Bird (right) and Scottie Pippen (left).
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/T. Gutierrez
Another milestone
Although he saw limited playing time in his last season in the NBA, Dirk Nowitzki did manage to reach another milestone. Against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 7, 2019, Nowitzki gathered in his 10,000th defensive rebound. He is just the fifth NBA player to reach the 10,000-rebound mark.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/B. Dill
30,000-point man
Two years earlier on March 7, 2017, Dirk Nowitzki reached another impressive milestone, scoring his 30,000th point in a home game against the Los Angeles Lakers. No. 41 finished his career with 31,560 points, making him the sixth-best scorer in NBA history.
Image: Getty Images/R. Martinez
Discovered in the German second division
The Dallas Mavericks and the NBA are a long way from where it all started. He was born in Würzburg, Bavaria on June 19, 1978. He didn't pick up a basketball until he was 13, but it was clear from the start that he had talent. While he was playing with Würzburg in Germany's second division the then 19-year-old first drew the attention of several NBA scouts.
Image: picture-alliance/ASA
The German wunderkind
The Milwaukee Bucks made Dirk Nowitzki the ninth overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft. Milwaukee then immediately traded Nowitzki to the Dallas Mavericks, meaning he never actually wore a Bucks jersey. Nowitzki got off to a slow start with the Mavs in his first season, which was shortened by a lockout. However, it wouldn't be long before Milwaukee's management would regret their mistake.
Image: AP
Fadeaway specialist
Nowitzki's trademark was his fadeaway jump shot. It may not be as spectacular as a dunk, which he's also more than capable of producing, but it is just as effective. The NBA's best defenders often commented about how hard it was to defend Dirk when he was in rhythm. He can do it all, it seems.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/AP/A. Kudacki
German flagbearer
Nowitzki had the honor of being Germany's flagbearer at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. However, Germany's basketball team failed to make it to the knockout phase. Nowitzki did win the bronze medal with Germany at the 2002 World Basketball Championship as well as silver at the 2005 edition of the tournament.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Mentor, personal trainer, advisor, friend
Holger Geschwindner was an elite basketball player who represented Germany at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich. However, he is far better known as the man who discovered Nowitzki. In 1995 he convinced Nowitzki to dedicate himself exclusively to basketball. Even now, Nowitzki sometimes has Geschwindner fly over to the US, where he is still the NBA star's personal trainer and mentor.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Dedert
A title for the ages
Dirk Nowitzki and his Dallas Mavericks won the 2011 NBA championship. The German helped make the title possible through more than just his play on the court — he agreed to accept a contract that paid him below market value in order to allow the team to bring in other big-name stars. Dallas won the NBA final series 4 games to 2 over LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
Image: piture-alliance/dpa
A German global star
Nowitzki thus became the first-ever German to win an NBA title, putting him in the same conversation as former German greats Max Schmeling, Franz Beckenbauer or Michael Schumacher. He was also named the Most Valuable Player of those NBA playoffs, four seasons after he had become the first European to be named the NBA's MVP. At home, he was named the 2011 German Sports Personality of the Year.
Image: AP
Accessible to the fans and media
Despite all of this success, Nowitzki has always kept his feet planted firmly on the ground. He makes himself available for interviews whenever he can and he takes time to sign autographs for the fans a much as he can. However, the father of three children tends to keep his family life to himself.
Image: Reuters/USA Today Sports/EFE/J. Mendez
Away from the court
Nowitzki is the curator of a foundation committed to the promotion of youth welfare, as well as the education and training of socially disadvantaged people. Involved in a number of other projects, the German has earned himself a reputation as player whose influence reaches beyond the basketball court. Here he is talking about Basketball Without Borders at a press conference in South Africa.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/AP/T. Hadebe
Time on the sidelines
Injuries were a recurring problem in the later stages of Nowitzki’s career. His 31,560 points put him in sixth place on the NBA's all-time scorers' list, ahead of the likes of Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O'Neal.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/D. Zalubowski
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Thrown away socks and pants
It feels like you have come full circle in San Antonio. It was here in 1998 that you first rose to prominence in the United States, scoring a game-high 33 points in a shock 104-99 victory for a Rest of the World team against the US. And now, you ended your career in the same place.
Yes, my career really got going in San Antonio. Before that game, I was a relative unknown at DJK Würzburg. But suddenly, I was catapulted onto the global stage. Everything happened incredibly quickly. I was drafted straight from the German second division into the NBA. So it is quite fitting to come full circle here. I've enjoyed some fantastic experiences, matches and playoff series against the Spurs.
How did you feel sitting alongside your teammates in the locker room for one last time?
It was rather strange. Before the game, it was really emotional pulling on my jersey for the last time. And then taking it off again afterwards. I threw everything away: my socks, pants, everything. We don't need to wash them anymore, we can just throw them away. So that was quite strange. I'm sure I will miss it all for a few months, years or maybe even for ever — who knows? But I can say that I gave it everything l had.
Dirk Nowitzki: The 6th best NBA scorer of all time
In 1999, Dirk Nowitzki played his first NBA game. Two decades later, Germany's biggest star ranks sixth in career points, ahead of NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O'Neal. DW looks back on his career so far.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Gebert
The German wunderkind
The Milwaukee Bucks made Dirk Nowitzki the ninth overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft. Milwaukee then immediately traded Nowitzki to the Dallas Mavericks, meaning he never actually wore a Bucks jersey. His NBA debut was delayed by the 1998-99 NBA lockout, but it finally came on February 5, 1999 against the Seattle Supersonics and fellow German Detlef Schrempf.
Image: Getty Images/Allsport/R. Martinez
Discovered in Germany's second division
Nowitzki, whose mother played basketball for Germany and whose father was a second-division handball player, was born in Würzburg on June 19, 1978. He didn't pick up a basketball until he was 13, but it was clear from the start that he had talent. It was while he was playing for Würzburg in Germany's second division, that the then 19-year-old first drew the attention of several NBA scouts.
Image: picture-alliance/ASA
Fadeaway specialist
Nowitzki's trademark is his fadeaway jump shot. It may not be as spectacular as a dunk, which he's also more than capable of producing, but it's just as effective. The NBA's best defensive players often said how hard it was to defend Dirk when he was in the groove. It seems he can do it all.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/AP/A. Kudacki
German flagbearer
Nowitzki had the honor of being Germany's flagbearer at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. However, Germany's basketball team failed to make it to the knockout phase. Nowitzki did win the bronze medal with Germany at the 2002 World Basketball Championship as well as silver at the 2005 edition of the tournament.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Mentor, personal trainer, advisor, friend
Holger Geschwindner was an elite basketball player who represented Germany at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. However, he is far better known as the man who discovered Nowitzki. In 1995 he convinced Nowitzki to dedicate himself exclusively to basketball. Even now, Nowitzki sometimes has Geschwindner fly over to the US, where he is still the NBA star's personal trainer and mentor.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Dedert
A title for the ages
Dirk Nowitzki and his Dallas Mavericks won the 2011 NBA championship. The German helped make the title possible through more than just his play on the court. He agreed to accept a contract that paid him below market value, in order to allow the team to bring in other big-name stars. Dallas won the NBA final series 4 games to 2 over Lebron James and the Miami Heat
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Martinez
A German global star
Nowitzki thus became the first-ever German to win an NBA title – putting him in the same conversation as former German sporting greats Max Schmeling, Franz Beckenbauer and Michael Schumacher. He was also named the Most Valuable Player of those NBA playoffs, four seasons after he had become the first European to be named the NBA's MVP.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/L.W. Smith
Accessible to the fans and media
Despite all of this success, Dirk Nowitzki has always kept his feet planted firmly on the ground. He makes himself available for interviews whenever he can and takes time to sign autographs for the fans as often as possible. However, the father of three children tends to keep his family life to himself.
Image: Reuters/USA Today Sports/EFE/J. Mendez
Away from the court
Nowitzki is the curator of a foundation committed to the promotion of youth welfare, as well as the education and training of socially disadvantaged people. Involved in a number of other projects, the German has earned himself a reputation as a player whose influence reaches beyond the basketball court. Here he is talking about “Basketball without borders” at a press conference in South Africa.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/AP/T. Hadebe
Returning from injury to set a new record
Offseason ankle surgery meant that Nowitzki was only able to return to the court late last year. However, when he did, on December 13, he set the NBA record for the most seasons played at a single club (21). He also became just the fifth NBA player to last for 21 seasons, tying a league record. As of February 4, 2019, he is seventh in the NBA's regular season scorers' list with 31,275 points.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/D. Zalubowski
A special addition
Dirk Nowitzki entered his 21st season in the NBA knowing that he would be playing a diminished role compared to his heyday. However, in recognition of his remarkable career and contributions off the court, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made Nowitzki one of two special team roster additions for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17. The other is Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/AP/The Dallas Morning News/ V. Bryant
Passing Wilt
In February 2019, Dirk Nowitzki jumped up to sixth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. In doing so, he passed basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain, who holds NBA records for most points in a game (100) and highest points-per-game average in a season (50.4). Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Michael Jordan have scored more career points than Nowitzki.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Landis
Following in his footsteps?
Currently, the best player on the Dallas Mavericks is Luka Doncic (right). The 19-year-old guard from Slovenia is having an even better rookie season than the veteran Nowitzki had two decades ago, averaging more than 20 points and seven rebounds per game.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/L. Otero
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YouTube highlights for the kids
Your children are two, four and five years old. Did they realize these last few days were special for their dad?
I didn't see them after the game in Dallas [the Mavericks flew straight to San Antonio — the ed], but they were courtside right until the end. They are probably a bit too young to comprehend that I have stopped playing. But luckily, there's always YouTube. When they are a bit older, I'll force them to watch all the highlights until they are sick of the sight of them! That way I can show them that their dad used to be better than he was at the end when they saw him play.
Dirk Nowitzki is Germany's most famous basketball player and was one of the greatest ever over 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. He greatest successes were winning the 2011 NBA title with the Mavs, several MVP crowns, as well as bronze for Germany at the FIBA World Championship and silver at the European Championship. In April 2019, the 40-year-old Nowitzki announced his retirement from basketball.