Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Werner Nowitzkiis a German professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. An alumnus of Röntgen Gymnasium and the DJK Würzburg basketball club, Nowitzki was chosen as the ninth pick in the 1998 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and immediately traded to the Mavericks, where he has played since. Listed at 7 ft 0 in, Nowitzki is considered one of the greatest power forwards in basketball history...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionAthlete
Date of Birth19 June 1978
CountryGermany
I played all kinds of sports when I was young: tennis, handball, basketball, some soccer. I focused on basketball when I was 16 or 17 and then came to the U.S. when I was 20.
Basketball gave me a lot, which is why I want to stay connected with this sport later on, maybe working with young people. But it would be more in the background. Being in the spotlight was never really my thing. I never wanted to be famous.
I take my sport damned seriously. Basketball is my life. There are other people who go into important games as if they were any other game. I'm a brooder and I spend a lot of time thinking about my opponent, about the things he can do and about what I have to do to win. I don't think I'll ever be able to change that.
We have to find our sense of urgency a little bit earlier. We gave up almost 70 in the first half. It looked like we just went through the motions.
We tried a lot of things that game, but he's just that good.
Obviously, (winning the division) is big. To be No. 1 is always important..
Growing up, my idols were Lucky Luke and Jolly Jumper. And Scottie Pippen.
I wanted to avoid service, because I was on the road to becoming a professional basketball player.
Of course parents want their children to confide in them.
As a star you never know when people are really serious.
I lost control of myself a couple times in the playoffs. I have to keep cooler in the future.
As a newcomer, I was often expected to carry the bags of the older players, or get them burgers. That can make you feel pretty miserable.
I came up with my own 'Dream Shake' I guess - the white version.
The best player I've ever played against is Kobe Bryant. I have seen him do some stuff that is just unbelievable.