“All they know is, papa, you were so slow,” Dirk Nowitzki said. What feels like a real achievement for parents? It’s being able to show their kids how cool they are! Even the NBA legend seemingly struggles with it. His children were still very young when he retired, and they didn’t witness the German star in his prime. To prove how cool he was, Nowitzki had to resort to pulling out old highlight videos from the 2000s, but even that doesn’t seem to impress them! His oldest child is 12 years old now.
The Hall of Famer is the only NBA player to have spent his entire 21-year career with a single team. Playing for the Dallas Mavericks, he led the franchise to its first NBA Finals appearance in 2006 and its only NBA championship in 2011. The 14-time All-Star had a legendary career, earning All-NBA First Team honors four times and winning the NBA Finals MVP in 2011.
Fans are always in awe of Nowitzki. His presence alone can draw a crowd, something that, naturally, leaves his children a bit embarrassed. In an interview with Eddie Sefko, the former NBA star shared that his kids are shy and often feel embarrassed by the attention he receives. Even more so when they finally realise how cool their father is.
“They’re still young. I think my daughter understands the most. She’s 10 (12) now and she’s mostly embarrassed about being recognized when we travel. She goes: ‘Oh God, and she walks the other way.’ She’s a shy kid that just doesn’t like all the attention for the family,” Nowitzki said.
For young children, having a famous parent can be overwhelming at times. It takes some time getting used to it. Nowitzki and his wife Jessica Olsson have three kids. Born to a Swedish father and a Kenyan mother, Jessica is the sister of soccer players Marcus and Martin Olsson. She holds a master’s in International Business Administration and currently works as a director at a Dallas art gallery.
The two welcomed their first child, Malaika Nowitzki, in July 2013. Their two sons, Max and Morris, were born in March 2015 and November 2016.
The couple crossed paths for the first time back in 2010 at a charity event. After dating for some time, they tied the knot in 2012 with two wedding ceremonies, one in Jessica’s hometown of Nanyuki, Kenya, and another in Germany. And now that Nowitzki is the cool parent, he also ensures to help teach the right values to his kids.
What are the three things that Dirk Nowitzki sticks to for his kids?
Times have changed, but as a parent, the former Dallas Mavericks player still can’t shake off all his worries. Whether it’s racial issues or other challenges, the father of three wants to ensure his children are safe, even when they’re on their own. Back in 2017, he spoke about regressive practices and harmful incidents, expressing concern for his kids’ safety.
To address this, the former NBA player has focused on instilling strong values, education, and ethics in his children. He believes that with these foundations, they’ll be able to take good care of themselves.
“In your head, you’re saying it’s 2016, this stuff shouldn’t be happening in our society…You’re just trying to educate your kids so eventually if they do find themselves in a situation, they can talk themselves out of it or make the right decisions, make the right reads…” Nowitzki said during his conversation with Andscape.
The family also makes frequent visits to Kenya and Germany to help the children connect with relatives, traditions, and cultural customs. He aims to instill a sense of responsibility and boundaries in his children, ensuring they grow up with a healthy understanding of both love and discipline.
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