Dirk Nowitzki
LeBron James had nothing but fondness towards Dallas Mavericks legend, Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk’s statue was unveiled on the street now popularly known as Nowitzki Way.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban promised Dirk Nowitzki in his final home game that he would deliver the “biggest, most badass statue ever” in his honor. Christmas morning marked the day when Mark Cuban informed Dirk about the statue he rightfully deserved. Soon after, the 4-time NBA MVP had a few remarks over the one-step, fade-away statue.
LeBron James said he knew what the statue would look like even before the final statue was revealed for public view. He said, “It had to be a fade-away one leg, had to be. No question about it. Dirk is a legend, he’s an icon. For me, he’s the greatest international player ever. I put him right there with Manu (Emanuel Ginobili).
“What he brought to the city, (he paused) He was cold man, Dirk was cold.” LeBron James said that Dirk Nowitzki revolutionised some moves in the NBA. “Being able to put the ball on the ground, finish above the rim in his early years.”
He indicated that teams could not put a small person on him because he was too big to guard against the three-point line to the paint. His shots were unblockable similar to that of Larry Bird. “Dirk was one with top power force, top players of all time at that position. Right up there with Barkley, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Kevin McHale, those guys. He tough, Dirk was tough.”
Dirk Nowitzki was a 14-time All-Star and has had his jersey no. 41 retired by the Mavericks. He was the first German player to be honored with a jersey retirement, which happened recently in September 2022. So much so, Dirk has even got his jersey no. 14 retired by the German National team.
Unfortunately, Dirk could only bag 1 NBA Championship under his name with the Finals MVP award in 2011. They faced the Miami Heats’ “Big Three” (LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh) to lift their trophy.
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