The tears Dirk Nowitzki rose in the eyes, the farewell was perfectly staged. “That was my last home game,” announced the visibly moved Basketball Superstar Dirk Nowitzki on Tuesday evening (local time). The words meant at the same time his resignation after 21 NBA years with the Dallas Mavericks, came the 40-year-old German exceptional players, hard on the lips. “This is very emotional,” he explained. “It was an incredible journey.”
NBA Champion 2011, four years previously, to the best NBA player of season 14 is selected to times the Allstar: The list of awards and achievements of Nowitzki are long and always stay with the Dallas Mavericks in the attachment. “He will, therefore, get the greatest Statue of all time,” said Mavs owner Mark Cuban, in his final hymn of praise. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. No one will be like you.“
finish with a light show
As Dallas has missed the Playoffs in the North American professional League, the game on Thursday (2.00 PM/DAZN) in the case of the San Antonio Spurs of the last regular appearance for Nowitzki. In his last home game on Tuesday (local time) against the Phoenix Suns (120:109) he showed up with 30 points, his extra class. In the case of a light show, he went from the field, previously, Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Shawn Kemp and Detlev Schrempf, five NBA had him and Nowitzki-role models, in an impressive farewell gala honored.
He will be remembered as the best German basketball player in the history. Eight years ago, Nowitzki led the Mavs to his first and only title win in the NBA, and in 2007 was awarded as the most valuable player in the League. In the eternal points-best list he overtook just legend Wilt Chamberlain and climbed to sixth place. Also, the national team coined Nowitzki for years, won Bronze at the world Championships in 2002, and EM-silver in 2005, and was fulfilled in 2008 in Beijing the dream of a participation in the Olympic Games.
This season, made Nowitzki to create for a long time foot problems after ankle surgery in April. Only in mid-December, he returned to the parquet, and is abused on a regular basis. This season Nowitzki regularly as a substitute player from the bench and reached the lowest average of his career.
Now a time for the family
How big until the last of the sporting respect for the former German Prodigy showed during the performances of the Mavs this season. In Nowitzkis first goal, the Fans rose even in opposing arenas, celebrated each successful throw. As Doc Rivers, the Coach of the opposing Los Angeles Clippers, shortly before the end of the game broke, so that Fans and his players were in a spine-tingling Moment, the blond German court, moved many viewers to tears.
“It’s a great feeling that I will never forget. This is emotional,“ said Nowitzki to the respect of the Fans. “The recognition is for me a great experience, that what has been done for over two decades.” This season, he was at the invitation of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also honorary to 14. Time at the all-star game of the best and most popular professionals of the League to participate.
The father of a family had announced that, after the active career, first of all, no fixed Job. “I’m with the Kids a bit of travelling, a couple of things the company, I couldn’t afford to do my whole career,” said Nowitzki, the German press Agency in Dallas. “I’m going to plunge because that is not a decision, but the time with my family to enjoy.”
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Sebastian Schlichting
Nowitzki has with his Swedish wife, Jessica, three children. The sons, Max and Morris, and daughter, Malaika were already large space in his life – now he can focus more on his family. (dpa)
