A player so good that he set the NBA record like no other. Dirk Nowitzki won the 52nd Most Valuable Player trophy in the NBA, becoming the first European-born player, which makes the record even more exciting. His contribution to the pro league in America is immense, but his contribution to his motherland is no else. Despite the stature, the love from all over the world, and especially from Germany, the legend still feels incomplete for not fulfilling this dream.
For the national team, his total appearances were 153, spread from 1997 until 2015. He earned the MVP honors at EuroBasket 2005 and the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002. Where he led the Die Mannschaft to second and third-place finishes, respectively, in those tournaments. But his proudest moment for the national team was when the team qualified for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the only time in his esteemed career. But the current generation is doing far better as they not only secured qualification but also earned top rankings.
“When I start I started playing for the German national team in the late 90s, we would have never thought this was possible that Germany will be world cup champions so I think that shows the growth of basketball and in Germany, the rest of the World, in Europe, all over the place.” The German men’s team finished 4th in the 2024 Paris Olympics and secured the top place on the podium in the 2023 FIBA World Cup (Gold). That’s why Dirk Nowitzki is delighted to see the progress of the team.
That progress opened some old wounds. “I wish I won it when I played, but we weren’t quite good enough.” Despite the debacle of not qualifying for only one Olympics, the Mavs legend was close to bringing glory. In 2002, Nowitzki and Germany came up short in the Semi-Finals, but managed to bring home bronze medals. This remained the highest position that the German side finished for two decades until the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Not his team, but the 2023 national side gave Dirk Nowitzki a proud feeling
The Mavs legend was on a tour in the Middle East handling FIBA duties. The 14x All-Star visited Bahrain, where he met with Yao Ming and more. In Doha, where the 2027 FIBA WC will be played, he was alongside long-time rival Carmelo Anthony. There, they spoke about the importance of qualifiers for the national team and chose Germany and the USA as their favorites, respectively. Despite the now-favorite tag, at first, Dirk was both surprised and proud to see his country’s success on the international stage.
Aug 12, 2023; Springfield, MA, USA; Dirk Nowitzki gives his speech as he is inducted into the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
“I never thought Germany would be World Champions or playing in the Semi-finals of the Olympic Games,” Nowitkzi said. “It’s been incredible to see the growth of these guys, I’m sitting there like a proud father watching the guys play at such a high level. The future is bright for German basketball. Let’s see what the future brings.”
This statement was after the 2023 Gold medal win at the FIBA World Cup. It was their first title thanks to a close 83-77 win over Serbia in a thrilling final. Germany’s best player was Dennis Schroder, who scored a game-high 28 points, but had massive help in the third quarter. The Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz, helped spark a 22-10 run and brought the title home. So, Dirk Nowitzki’s team might not have been good, but his efforts never dropped. And the retirement of his #14 is a testament to the fact.
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