Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki is a retired German professional basketball player, born on June 19, 1978, in Würzburg, Germany. He is often considered one of the greatest power forwards of all time. Nowitzki began his professional career with DJK Würzburg, before moving to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA in 1998, where he played for 21 seasons, winning the NBA Championship in 2011.

Nowitzki is known for his versatile scoring ability, particularly his signature fadeaway jump shot. He has won numerous individual awards, including the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 2007, and holds multiple records, such as being the top-scoring foreign-born player in NBA history.

Off the court, Nowitzki is recognized for his philanthropy, having made significant charitable contributions and inspired countless people worldwide.

DJK Würzburg

• Youth and Early Career: Nowitzki was born and raised in Würzburg and began his career at DJK Würzburg. He played in the German Basketball Bundesliga from 1994 to 1998.

Dallas Mavericks

• NBA Success: Nowitzki was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks as the ninth pick in the 1998 NBA Draft and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he spent his entire 21-year NBA career. He led the Mavericks to 15 NBA playoff appearances, including the franchise's first Finals appearance in 2006 and first NBA championship in 2011. He was named NBA Finals MVP in 2011.

Germany National Team

• Debut: Made his debut for the Germany national team in 1997.

Achievements:

• FIBA World Championship: Bronze medal in 2002. Nowitzki was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
• European Basketball Championship: Silver medal in 2005.
• Nowitzki is Germany's all-time top scorer and has the most appearances for the national team.

• Position: Primarily a power forward, but also capable of playing as a center.
• Skills: Known for his scoring versatility, shooting range, and rebounding ability. Nowitzki is celebrated for his unique playing style that combined the size of a center with the shooting ability of a guard.

• Family: Nowitzki is married to Jessica Olsson and they have three children together.
• Philanthropy: Nowitzki is involved in numerous charitable activities and has donated significant amounts to causes such as education, health and wellbeing of children, and disaster relief efforts.

• Dirk Nowitzki is celebrated not only for his extraordinary talent and numerous records but also for his work ethic, loyalty, and longevity in professional basketball. His impact on the sport, particularly on the role and perception of European players in the NBA, extends beyond the court, inspiring millions of fans around the world.

Most Points in NBA History:

• Sixth all-time with over 31,000 points

Most Seasons Played with One Team:

• Record 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks

Most Points in International Competitions:

• Top scorer for the German national team

Books

• Nowitzki, H. (2016) The Great Nowitzki: Basketball Bekenntnisse. Germany: Riva Verlag.
• MacMahon, T. (2021) Dirk Nowitzki: The Great German. United States: Triumph Books.

Websites

• NBA: Information about Dirk Nowitzki’s career and achievements. Available at: https://www.nba.com
• Dallas Mavericks: Details about Nowitzki’s career at the Dallas Mavericks. Available at: https://www.mavs.com
• FIBA: Updates and records of Nowitzki in FIBA competitions. Available at: https://www.fiba.com

Articles

• ESPN: Dirk Nowitzki: Career in numbers. Available at: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26558902
• The Guardian: Dirk Nowitzki’s career highlights and records. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/dirk-nowitzki

Interviews and Documentaries

• Nowitzki: The Perfect Shot (2014): Directed by Sebastian Dehnhardt. This documentary provides a detailed look at Nowitzki’s life and career, featuring interviews with his family, friends, and colleagues.
• ESPN Interviews: Various interviews and features on Dirk Nowitzki, covering different aspects of his career. Available at: https://www.espn.com