Dirk Nowitzki has piled up an enviable resume during his 21-year NBA career.
A 14-time All-Star, an NBA champion (2011), seventh on the list of all-time leading scorers, etc. The German is regarded as one of the best foreign players to have ever featured in the NBA.
Nowitzki’s storied run is soon coming to an end, even though he has not officially announced it yet.
Emotional time
“This could be my last season, and this is surely my last appearance as an All-Star. It has been quite emotional this season. I received standing ovations at stadiums in Boston, New York, Indiana and other places. I’m humbled, and it’s something I’ll never forget.
“I was just a kid who came out of nowhere 20 years ago, and now I’m getting standing ovations in opposition arenas,” Nowitzki said.
The 40-year-old, who has spent his entire NBA career with Dallas Mavericks, joked about being the old man in his team.
“My teammates call me grandfather. I was once the one making fun of the old dudes. When I was 30, Jason Kidd was 36, and he used to get massages before and after the game. I would roll my eyes and say ‘Come on man, let’s get going already’.
“Now I’m the old man on the massage table. That’s the circle of life,” Nowitzki said.
And what better place to make his All-Star swansong than Michael Jordan’s home State. Jordan is also the principal owner of Charlotte Bobcats, and thus acts as the host of this All-Star weekend.
“I’ve played many matches against Jordan, and I played at Jordan’s last All-Star game as well, in Atlanta (2003). I can tell my grandkids that I shared the court with the greatest player of all time,” he said.
Nowitzki recalled the start of his basketball journey, when he was spotted by acclaimed coach Holger Geschwindner at the age of 15.
“I was lucky to meet the right people at the right time. Geschwindner taught me everything I know. And after that, it took a lot of dedication to reach this level,” he said.
The highlight
The championship ring he received in 2011 stands out as the highlight. “In 2006, we lost the Finals to Dwyane Wade and his Miami Heat. So it was great to get revenge on Wade and Miami when we beat them in the 2011 Finals.
“In a weird way, I’m happy that Wade defeated us in 2006, because that loss motivated me to become a better player," Nowitzki said.
(The writer is in Charlotte on invitation from NBA)