Prior to his Hall of Fame enshrinement, what did Dirk Nowitzki say about his NBA career?
As a rookie with the Dallas Mavericks in 1998, Dirk Nowitzk said wasn’t confident he could play in the NBA.
“I wasn’t even sure whether I’d stay my whole rookie contract the way things were going in year one, I was struggling a bit I think it’s normal to have some doubts,” Nowitzki said on Tuesday. “Then [owner] Mark [Cuban] buying the team my second year, him being my No. 1 supporter and then, of course, us getting better and the city getting more excited about Mavs basketball . . . we changed the reputation around here of Mavs basketball.”
The rest is history. Nowizki evolved into one of the world’s best players, playing for the Mavericks for 21 seasons and winning the NBA championship in 2011.
On Saturday, he will be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
Nowitzki spoke on a myriad of topics, from what it was like when he first arrived in Dallas to the experience of getting fitted for his special hall of fame jacket.
“It was hard for me back then, in a way the last 20-something years the world has gotten a lot smaller with internet, with social media, but back then you couldn’t hop on Google and see what it’s like in Texas. So I had no idea really what to expect, it was a hard time,” said Nowitzki.
The ensuing summer, Nowitzki said, was crucial for him because it was his first full season with the team and he had finally settled in and obtained his own apartment and car and was able to become more comfortable living in Dallas.
“The game has evolved so much since I got in the league,” said Nowitzki, “I was a guy that loved to face up, be outside, play more on the perimeter than banging with the big guys, and then, of course, Nelly [Don Nelson] helped if I would have gone to another team maybe they would’ve bulked me up, maybe they would have stuck me under the basket to play closer to the basket but Nelly, he just saw the game different... he encouraged me to play my style.”
When Nowitzki entered the NBA, power forwards and centers still primarily operated in the post and around the basket but Nowizki was a pioneer in changing that due to his shooting capabilities. Nowitzki reflected on being a prototype for the modern NBA big.
Nowitzki also expressed pride when speaking about playing for the German national team and being the flag bearer for the 2008 Summer Olympics which he regarded as one of the best moments of his career.
“I represented Germany ever since I can remember, I was playing junior national team at age 14-15 we’re traveling through Europe, playing other countries where some of my classmates never left their hometown. I’m very thankful to the German Basketball Federation and the ride that I’ve been on with them.”
Nowitzki will leave Dallas later this week for the weekend of activities in Springfield.
The new inductees receive their HOF jackets on Friday night ahead of the ceremony. Nowitzki was surprised to find out that a Dallas company made the jackets and that they were Mavs fans.
“When I went up to get my jacket they’re like Mavs in the house,” said Nowitzki, “So that was a cool moment and gonna have my Mavs logo in my jacket.”
Despite the pomp and circumstance that will accompany his entrance to the HOF Nowitzki said he wanted to make sure to take in the moment.
“I think the whole weekend will be sorta surreal,” said Nowitzki, “ I gotta make sure sometimes I stop and reflect a little bit and really still enjoy what’s going on.”
Nowitzki will certainly mention the role his family played in his career.
“When I speak to my parents and my sister, obviously, I think I will get a little emotional stuff that they’ve done, put their lives on hold at the time,” said Nowitzki, “Besides the championship the big moments those were some of my coolest reflections.”
The ceremony is Saturday at 7 p.m. CT at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
