There’s a twist to how Dirk became No. 41 for Mavericks

When it comes to NBA jerseys in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it doesn’t take long to see someone wearing a Dallas Mavericks’ “41” on their back.

No. 41 is All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki.

There will be thousands in the stands Thursday night when the Mavericks host Philadelphia at the American Airlines Center.

However, the history behind Nowitzki’s number is not as simple as his patented one-legged fadeaway.

Nowitzki was born in Würzburg, Germany, and grew up playing basketball wearing No. 14, including with hometown professional club DJK s.Oliver Würzburg.

He was selected ninth overall in the 1998 NBA Draft by Milwaukee, which had arranged a trade to send him to the Mavericks in exchange for the late Robert “Tractor” Traylor of Michigan.

Upon arrival, Nowitzki discovered that guard Robert Pack was already wearing No. 14.

“I always wore 14 in Germany. I always have,” Nowitzki recalled. “And I came over and wanted 14, but he had No. 14 and I asked him if I could get it. But he said, ‘I’m not giving my number to no rookie.’ He didn’t want to shoot for it or anything.”

With his favorite number taken, Nowitzki got creative.

“I just ended up flipping the numbers and it came to 41,” he said.

On Aug. 16, 2000, as part of a four-team trade, the Mavericks sent Pack, center John “Hot Rod” Williams and cash to the Boston Celtics.

“When Pack left, I had a chance to switch back [to 14], but then I already had two years in the bag,” Nowitzki said. “So, I didn’t want to switch it. I just left it at 41.”

Forward Brandan Wright (34), center Greg Smith (4) and guard Monta Ellis (11) also had intriguing tales about their jersey numbers.

“It’s weird, man, because I wore No. 4 all the way up till my freshman year of high school,” Wright said. “Chris Webber was my favorite player.

“When I got to high school, my high school coach just gave me 34. I’ve just been rolling with it ever since. It’s a number that has served me well.”

Just like Nowitzki, Wright has never thought about going back to No. 4

“No man, I’m settled in and the league is strict on changing numbers,” Wright said. “I don’t know if you know the policy, but you pretty much have to buy all those jerseys [that the league had printed with the previous number].”

Smith, who is 6-foot-10, said his desire to be a guard led him to No. 4.

“No. 4 is the number I’ve been wearing since I was younger. It’s a number that stuck with me,” Smith said. “In high school, I was wearing 44 and I trimmed it down to 4.

“All bigs want to be guards, and guards wear smaller numbers, so I switched to 4 and it just stuck with me.”

For Ellis, it was a case of family and finances.

Ellis went from high school, where he wore No. 11, to the NBA in 2005. He was drafted in the second round by Golden State out of Lanier (Jackson, Miss.) High School.

At Golden State, he had to wear No. 8 because 11 was taken by second-year forward Zarko Cabarkapa. Ellis spent 6 1/2 years with the Warriors wearing No. 8 before being traded to Milwaukee, where he regained his No. 11 jersey. After a year and a half in Milwaukee, he joined the Mavericks last season.

“I’ve been wearing this number since I was in elementary school,” Ellis said. “My mom wore it [at Lanier] and me and my mom were best friends, and so I wanted to be like her and it stuck.

“When I first got into the NBA, I had to go to 8 because 11 was taken. They told me that you can either ask or pay the guy for the number. At that time, I didn’t have the money to pay for it so I just waited and waited and finally 11 came back to me.

“It was like a new beginning. I think me going back to No. 11 really has me getting back to my old self again.”

A number of reasons

Dallas Mavericks players wear certain jersey numbers for a variety of reasons. Here are a few:

41 Dirk Nowitzki: I just ended up flipping the numbers and it came to 41.

34 Brandan Wright: When I got to high school, my high school coach just gave me 34. I’ve just been rolling with it ever since.

4 Greg Smith: All bigs want to be guards and guards wear smaller numbers so I switched to 4 and it just stuck with me.”

11 Monta Ellis: My mom wore it and me and my mom were best friends and so I wanted to be like her and it stuck.

This story was originally published November 12, 2014 at 7:13 PM with the headline "There’s a twist to how Dirk became No. 41 for Mavericks."