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Dirk Werner Nowitzki (IPA pronuncation: [no'vɪtski]) (born June 19 1978 in Würzburg, West Germany) is a German basketball player for the United States' National Basketball Association's (NBA) Dallas Mavericks. Standing at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), Nowitzki is an all-purpose forward, able to play any position in the frontcourt (center, power forward, or small forward). Nowitzki was selected with the 9th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks for their sixth pick, Robert Traylor. The trade ended up being a steal for Dallas as Nowitzki blossomed into an all-star while Traylor was out of the league in less than five seasons. Nowitzki is widely regarded as one of the best players in the NBA today. Although there have been numerous German players in the NBA, in 2006 Nowitzki became just the second German-born player (after Detlef Schrempf) to make it to the Finals.
Early life
He was first noticed by the NBA world when a team of American pro stars, including Scottie Pippen, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton and Charles Barkley, came to Germany and played an exhibition game against a German national youth team in September 1997. During the game, Nowitzki dunked over Charles Barkley. Barkley saw a future superstar in the gangly German teenager and later admitted to offering to pay him "any amount of money he wanted if he would come to his alma mater, Auburn." [2] [3] Nowitzki did not truly gain international attention, however, until the March 1998 Nike Hoop Summit in San Antonio, Texas, where he notched 33 points and 14 rebounds to lead a team of international juniors to a surprise victory over a U.S. junior team. [4] NBA careerEarly yearsNowitzki decided to declare for the 1998 NBA Draft at the age of 20. He had a promise from Boston Celtics head coach Rick Pitino that his team would take him with the 10th overall selection. However, one other team was interested in the German prospect: the Dallas Mavericks, and they selected him just one pick earlier. Technically, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, but the Bucks were selecting for the Mavericks; the two teams had a pre-arranged deal. The Mavericks had likewise selected Robert "Tractor" Traylor for the Bucks with the sixth pick. Even though the two teams were selecting for each other, the Nowitzki-for-Traylor deal has gone down as one of the most infamous and lopsided trades ever. The Mavericks also got the draft rights to nineteenth-overall pick Pat Garrity, but that same draft, Garrity was traded (along with other players and future draft considerations) to the Phoenix Suns for young point guard Steve Nash. On that night, the Dallas Mavericks acquired the two pieces on which they would build their franchise for years to come.
The following season (2000-01), he averaged 21.8 points and 9.2 rebounds and became the first Maverick to be named to the All-NBA Team, making the third team. The All-StarIn 2001-02, Nowitzki averaged 23.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He made his first appearance in the NBA All-Star Game. He was again selected to the All-NBA team, this time on the second team. In the following summer, he played on the German national team that finished third at the FIBA World Championships in Indianapolis and was named the tournament MVP. Before the 2002-03 season, he was named in a survey of NBA general managers as the league's top international player. He met those expectations; he matched his 2001-02 rebound average and increased his scoring average to a career-high 25.1 points. He was again selected to the All-Star Game and the All-NBA second team. He suffered through nagging ankle injuries in 2003-04, but still managed to finish in the top 10 in the NBA in scoring, at 21.8 ppg, and added 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He was again selected for the All-Star Game, and again made the All-NBA team, this time on the third team. Nowitzki was one of the Mavericks' few bright spots in a five-game loss to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2004 playoffs, averaging 26.6 points and 11.8 rebounds for the series. The franchise playerBefore the 2004-05 NBA season, Nowitzki's best friend Steve Nash left Dallas and returned to the Phoenix Suns as a free agent. Without Nash, many feared Nowitzki's game would falter, but precisely the opposite occurred. Nowitzki would score 26.1 points a game, a career-high, and net 9.7 rebounds. His 1.5 blocks and 3.1 assists were also career numbers. On December 2, 2004, Nowitzki scored 53 points in an overtime win against the Houston Rockets, a career best. Nowitzki was voted to the first team All-NBA squad for the 2004-05 season, although the Mavericks were ousted from the playoffs by the Nash-led Suns. That season Nowitzki also placed third in the league's MVP voting, behind Nash and Shaquille O'Neal. By being elected to the first team All-NBA, Nowitzki became the first player who did not attend a United States high school or college to be on the All-NBA first team. Disappointed in his team's early exit from the playoffs, Nowitzki looked forward to the next season. Teammate Michael Finley was waived over the summer, and now Nowitzki was the last player remaining from the Mavericks' "Big Three" of Nash, Finley, and himself. He was now the unequivocal leader of the team. Under the tutelage of coach and former teammate Avery Johnson, who acceded to the head coach position when Don Nelson stepped down late in the 2004-05 season, Nowitzki made strides in his inside game. Long considered as a "soft" jump shooter in the mold of many European players, Nowitzki cut back on his three-point attempts and concentrated on his inside game. He went on to have another career year, with averages of 26.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He improved his shooting percentage, setting personal season records in field goals (48.0%), three-point shots (40.6%) and free throws (90.1%). On January 3, 2006, Nowitzki broke a Mavericks franchise record, previously held by Nash, by making his 50th consecutive free throw. On January 6, his record streak ended at 60. During the 2006 All-Star Weekend in Houston, Nowitzki scored 18 points to defeat Seattle Supersonics guard Ray Allen and Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas in the Three-Point Shootout contest. Perhaps more importantly, under Johnson, a coach nicknamed "The Little General" for his diminutive height and born leadership, Nowitzki learned to lead his team by example, and he paced the Mavericks to a 60-win season. The team finished with the third-best record in the league, behind the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons. As in the 2004-05 season, he finished third in the league's MVP voting, this time behind Nash and LeBron James. He was again elected to the first team All-NBA squad. Nowitzki would confirm his superstar status in earnest during the playoffs as he averaged 27.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. The Mavericks would sweep the Memphis Grizzlies (in Game 3 he would convert a wild three-point attempt to tie the game and force overtime) and defeat the San Antonio Spurs in seven gruelling games (in Game 7, with the Mavs down by 3, he converted on a three-point play and forced overtime) to advance to the Western Conference Finals, where they would again meet Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. Nowitzki scored 50 points to lead the Mavericks to a victory in the crucial Game 5 with the series tied 2-2; the Mavericks would go on to win in six games and face the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals. Of Nowitzki's performance, ESPN columnist Bill Simmons would remark, "Dirk is playing at a higher level than any forward since Bird." [5] However Nowitzki only made 20 of his last 55 shots in the final 3 games as the Mavericks lost the Finals series 4-2 to the Heat after leading 2-0. Nowitzki, the first European player to become an NBA superstar, is thought by some to be leading a revolution in how the game is played. Helped by rule changes meant to discourage contact and increase scoring in response to flagging interest in the league and the poor performance of American players in international competition, the NBA game has gone from a tough, grinding affair to a more finesse-oriented game, as evidenced by the recent success of teams such as the Mavericks and Suns who place a premium on speed and scoring rather than size and physicality. Miami Heat center, 2000 NBA MVP, and three-time NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal said of Nowitzki, "The game is changing and the rules are changing. The NBA centers are going more toward the European player. I tell my kids you won't be able to play the game your daddy played. It's becoming a different game. He is where the big-man game will be in four or five years. When you talk great big men, it'll be based on whether guys can play like Dirk or not. Stepping out, shooting the three, midrange game and the low-post game. I'm going to actually let my children watch his game." [6] Nowitzki is tied with Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics and Zydrunas Ilgauskas of the Cleveland Cavaliers for sixth place among active players who have played their entire NBA career for one team (8 seasons). (Kevin Garnett leads all active players, having played 11 seasons for the Minnesota Timberwolves.) Playing styleNowitzki is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and is capable of shooting a high percentage from both medium range and beyond the three-point line, an exceptional skill for a 7-foot forward. His tall frame makes it difficult for defenders to guard and contest his jump shots. Nowitzki utilizes a fadeaway jumper which is difficult to block, and he is outstanding at the free throw line (over 90% in 2006). Some critics note that, for a man of his size, he should be able to score more from the low post, although in recent years his inside game has improved. Dirk also has perhaps the most effective high post game in the NBA today. He often receives a pass near the top of the key and brings the ball down to the low post to score on a turnaround jump shot or a drive. This element of his game has developed mostly in the past year. Nowitzki was a great complement to former teammate, Steve Nash, on the pick and roll. Though Nowitzki now has to create his own offense more without the benefit of Nash's pinpoint passes, he has been able to adjust to the change fairly easily with a combination of driving and stopping in the lane for jump shots. Early in his career, Nowitzki had a reputation for lackluster defense; one critic joked that Nowitzki should be referred to as "Irk" because "he had no D."[citation needed] However, Nowitzki's defense has improved under the tutelage of current Dallas coach Avery Johnson. Recently, Nowitzki notched a career high in blocks on January 6, 2006, with 7 against the Denver Nuggets. In comparison to his shooting ability and his improved defense, note that Nowitzki is the only player in NBA history to register at least 150 three-point field goals and 100 blocks in a season (he had 151 three-point field goals and 101 blocks in the 2000-01 season). Nowitzki is frequently compared to Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird, as both are considered among the best shooters of all-time and both are prolific scorers. Both Bird and Nowitzki are three-point contest champions and excellent free-throw shooters. However, those who make such comparisons acknowledge that Bird had a more developed all-around game and was a better rebounder, defender, and passer. In particular Bird's assist numbers are much higher than Nowitzki's with Bird reaching upwards of 7 assists per game in several seasons and Nowitzki having a career high average of 3.1 per game (2004-05). Also, Bird was an immediate sensation in the league winning the Rookie of the Year honors, while Nowitzki, who entered the league three years younger than Bird, took some time to develop. Nowitzki's scoring pace has now caught up to Bird's, but his rebounding and ball sense still fall somewhat short; Nowitzki has never averaged more than 10 rebounds per game in a season, while Bird, in the first six years of his career, never averaged fewer than 10. [7] [8] Awards/achievementsNBA highlights
Lifetime statsRegular season, after the 2005-06 season
Postseason, after the 2006 playoffs
Career Highs (as of March 3, 2007)
Milestones
Dallas Mavericks franchise records
Other
Personal life
Trivia
References
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