Welcome to our collection of quotes by Dirk Nowitzki. We hope you enjoy pondering them and please share widely.
Wikipedia Summary for Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Werner Nowitzki (German pronunciation: [ˈdɪʁk noˈvɪtski], audio ; born June 19, 1978) is a German former professional basketball player who is as a special advisor for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Listed at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), he is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time and is considered by many to be the greatest European player of all time. In 2021, he was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
An alumnus of the DJK Würzburg basketball club, Nowitzki was chosen as the ninth pick in the 1998 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he played his entire 21-year National Basketball Association (NBA) career. Nowitzki led the Mavericks to 15 NBA playoff appearances (2001–2012; 2014–2016), including the franchise's first Finals appearance in 2006 and its only NBA championship in 2011. Known for his scoring ability, versatility, accurate outside shooting, and trademark fadeaway jump shot, Nowitzki won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2007 and the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in 2011.
Nowitzki is the only player ever to play for a single NBA franchise for 21 seasons. He is a 14-time All-Star, a 12-time All-NBA Team member, the first European player to start in an All-Star Game, and the first European player to receive the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Nowitzki is the highest-scoring foreign-born player in NBA history. He is the first Maverick voted onto an All-NBA Team and holds several all-time Mavericks franchise records. On December 10, 2012, he became the first non-American player to receive the Naismith Legacy Award. Following his retirement, Nowitzki stood sixth on the list of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders.
In international play, Nowitzki led the German national basketball team to a bronze medal in the 2002 FIBA World Championship and silver in EuroBasket 2005, and was the leading scorer and MVP in both tournaments.
I understand you've got to go through tough times to get better.
I was never a great screen and roller, obviously.
I love to play, and I love the sport, but I don't play it to gain popularity.
I've never faked an injury or an illness before.
I felt, when I was 20, I wasn't quite ready for the physical contact of 82 games. Mentally, it was tough. I forgot what city we were in most of the time. I can't even imagine going through it at 18 or 19.
Corner is the easiest three in basketball.
I was never the most confident man in the world.
I love watching Steph Curry. When he's hot, every time he gets it, I'm like, 'Shoot!'
My whole first season was surreal. My first game was against Detlef Schrempf. There was German media everywhere. It was probably my worst NBA game. It was all a blur.
When the media's around, I try to be careful. I don't want to make a mistake or use bad language, and I have to really concentrate because of the language barrier.
Everybody has different tastes. Some people love Italian food; some don't.
The best player I've ever played against is Kobe Bryant. I have seen him do some stuff that is just unbelievable.
If you do the best you can, you have nothing to be ashamed of. A defeat is not a disgrace.
When I think about my MVP season, I will also think about the loss to Golden State. But winning the award as Most Valuable Player of the NBA is just a huge honour. I didn't really realise how big it was until Mark Cuban had tears in his eyes at the award ceremony.
When you're older and get more experience, the game slows down for you. I know exactly what spot to get to where I can always get my shot off no matter who's guarding me.
This feeling to be on the best team of the world is just indescribable.
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.
The playoffs is all about showing heart and playing together.
I'm not the kind of guy who just goes up to women.
The only advice I would give young guys is to keep your ears and eyes open. Never see yourself as a finished product.
I lost control of myself a couple times in the playoffs. I have to keep cooler in the future.
I want to raise a family and have a couple of small Dirks running around. But it will not be easy to win my heart.
When I think about my MVP season, I will also think about the loss to Golden State. But winning the award as Most Valuable Player of the NBA is just a huge honor. I didn't really realize how big it was until Mark Cuban had tears in his eyes at the award ceremony.
I'm not big on material things, but I like my cars. They are German-made and custom-made.
Growing up, my idols were Lucky Luke and Jolly Jumper. And Scottie Pippen.
I don't think the Whataburger would dunk on the In-N-Out Burger, but I never really liked Whataburger or all the other burgers. McDonald's is decent, I guess, but no, the In-N-Out Burger kills them all.
I try to stay away, but In-N-Out, you just can't compare it. It's the best. It's the best. It's healthy fast food; they do their own meat and their own salad.
I started to play the guitar for a couple of years, which was fun. I still bring it out once in a while, could bust out a couple of songs, but I'm not very good at it.
My dad never really played basketball, but now he's my biggest critic. I come home, and he says: 'Why didn't you shoot there? Why didn't you drive?'
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.
I think I can always shoot 3s. I think I can shoot 3s when I'm 60.
I may not be the most physically tough player, but I think mentally I'm right up there.
Money isn't something I play for. I want to compete. I want to win.
I always wanted to be a basketball player. Nothing more, nothing less.