Dirk Nowitzki facts for kids
Nowitzki in 2019
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| Dallas Mavericks | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Special advisor | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | June 19, 1978 Würzburg, West Germany |
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| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1998 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1994–2019 | |||||||||||||||||||
| League | NBA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1998 | DJK Würzburg | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2019 | Dallas Mavericks | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 31,560 (20.7 ppg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 11,489 (7.5 rpg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 3,651 (2.4 apg) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Dirk Werner Nowitzki (born June 19, 1978) is a German former professional basketball player. He is now a special advisor for the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at 7 feet tall, he is known as one of the best power forwards ever. Many also consider him the greatest European player of all time. In 2021, he was chosen for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. In 2023, Nowitzki joined the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Dirk Nowitzki started his basketball journey with the DJK Würzburg club in Germany. He was picked ninth in the 1998 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. Right away, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He played his entire 21-year NBA career with the Mavericks. Nowitzki led the Mavericks to 15 playoff appearances. This included their first ever NBA Finals in 2006. He also led them to their only NBA championship in 2011. He was famous for his scoring, his ability to play different roles, and his amazing one-legged fadeaway jump shot. Nowitzki won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2007. He also won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in 2011.
Nowitzki is the only player to ever play for one NBA team for 21 seasons. He was an All-Star 14 times. He was also named to the All-NBA Team 12 times. He was the first European player to start in an All-Star Game. He was also the first European to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Nowitzki has scored more points than any other foreign-born player in NBA history. He holds many all-time Mavericks team records. After he retired, Nowitzki was sixth on the NBA all-time scoring list.
For his country, Nowitzki led the German national team to a bronze medal in the 2002 FIBA World Championship. He also won a silver medal in EuroBasket 2005. He was the top scorer and MVP in both tournaments. In September 2022, his number 14 jersey was retired by the German national team. This was the first time a German men's player received this honor.
Contents
- Dirk's Early Life and Basketball Start
- Dirk's Professional Career
- Playing for Germany
- Dirk's Playing Style
- NBA Career Statistics
- Career Highlights and Awards
- Dirk's Personal Life
- Honors and Tributes
- Images for kids
- See also
Dirk's Early Life and Basketball Start
Dirk Werner Nowitzki was born in Würzburg, Germany. He came from a family of athletes. His mother, Helga, was a professional basketball player. His father, Jörg-Werner, played handball for Germany. Dirk's older sister, Silke, was also a basketball player.
Dirk was a very tall child. He was often much taller than his friends. He first played handball and tennis. He was a good junior tennis player. But he soon switched to basketball. Watching the 1992 U.S. Olympic "Dream Team" made him love basketball.
When he was 15, Dirk joined the local DJK Würzburg club. A former German basketball player, Holger Geschwindner, noticed his talent. Geschwindner offered to coach Dirk individually. He focused on shooting and passing. He also encouraged Dirk to play music and read books. This helped Dirk become a well-rounded person.
After a year, Dirk's coach asked him to choose. He could either be a local hero or play against the best in the world. Dirk chose to train hard every day. In 1994, at 16, he joined the DJK team.
Dirk's Professional Career
Playing in Germany (1994–1998)
When Dirk joined DJK, they played in Germany's second-tier league. His first coach, Pit Stahl, played him as an outside-scoring forward. This helped use his shooting skills. In his first season (1994–95), Dirk was often on the bench. He also had trouble with school.
In the 1995–96 season, Dirk became a starter. He regularly scored double-digit points. German national coach Dirk Bauermann saw him score 24 points. He said Dirk was the best German basketball talent in 10 or 15 years.
In the 1996–97 season, Dirk averaged 19.4 points per game. DJK finished second, but could not get promoted. In the 1997–98 season, Dirk finished his high school exams. He also did his military service. Dirk, now 6 feet 11 inches tall, led DJK to promotion. He was the top scorer with 28.2 points per game. He was voted "German Basketballer of the Year."
Dirk's talent was noticed outside Germany. He played against NBA stars like Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen. Barkley was very impressed. He said, "The boy is a genius. If he wants to enter the NBA, he can call me." In March 1998, Dirk played in the Nike Hoop Summit. He scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Many European and NBA teams wanted him after that game.
Joining the Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019)
A Tough Start (1998–1999)
Dirk decided to go straight to the NBA from high school. The Milwaukee Bucks picked him ninth in the 1998 NBA draft. But they immediately traded him to the Dallas Mavericks. Future star point guard Steve Nash also came to Dallas in the same trade. Dirk and Steve quickly became great friends. Dirk was only the fourth German player in NBA history.
The start of the 1998–99 season was delayed by a player strike. Dirk went back to play for DJK Würzburg for a short time. When the NBA season finally started, Dirk struggled. He was a power forward. He felt that other NBA players were stronger. He also felt pressure as a high draft pick. He averaged only 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds. Dirk later said he was so frustrated he thought about going back to Germany. The Mavericks won only 19 games and missed the playoffs.
The "Big Three" Years (1999–2004)
In January 2000, Mark Cuban bought the Mavericks. Cuban invested a lot in the team. He bought them a private jet and improved everything. Dirk loved Cuban, saying he "created the perfect environment." Dirk improved a lot in his second season. He averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. He was second for the NBA Most Improved Player Award.
In the 2000–01 NBA season, Dirk got even better. He averaged 21.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. He played in all 82 games. Dirk became the first Maverick to be chosen for an All-NBA team. With Dirk, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley, the Mavericks became known as the "Big Three."
The Mavericks made the playoffs for the first time since 1990. They beat the Utah Jazz in the first round. Then they faced the San Antonio Spurs. Dirk got sick with the flu during the series. The Mavericks lost in five games.
Before the 2001–02 NBA season, Dirk signed a big contract. He kept improving, averaging 23.4 points and 9.9 rebounds. He was voted into his first All-Star Game. The Mavericks swept the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. But they lost to the Sacramento Kings in the second round.
In the 2002–03 NBA season, Dirk averaged 25.1 points and 9.9 rebounds. The Mavericks had their best record ever, with 60 wins. They won their first three playoff games against the Portland Trail Blazers. But then they lost the next three! In Game 7, Dirk made a big three-pointer. The Mavericks won and moved on. They beat the Kings in another seven-game series. In the Western Conference Finals, they played the Spurs again. Dirk got injured in Game 3 and missed the rest of the series. Without him, the Mavericks lost.
For the 2003–04 NBA season, Dirk gained muscle to play a more physical role. His scoring went down a bit, but he still led the team in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks. The Mavericks met the Kings again in the playoffs and lost in five games.
Becoming the Franchise Player (2004–2010)
Before the 2004–05 NBA season, Dirk's good friend Steve Nash left the Mavericks. Their coach, Don Nelson, also resigned. His assistant, Avery Johnson, took over. Dirk stepped up his game. He averaged a career-high 26.1 points and 9.7 rebounds. He was chosen for the All-NBA First Team for the first time.
In the playoffs, the Mavericks beat the Houston Rockets in a tough seven-game series. Then they faced Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. The Suns won the series in six games.
Before the 2005–06 NBA season, Michael Finley left the team. Dirk was now the main star. He averaged 26.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He also shot very well from all over the court. Dirk won the NBA Three-Point Contest during the All-Star Weekend.
Dirk led Dallas to 60 wins. He was again chosen for the All-NBA First Team. In the playoffs, the Mavericks swept the Memphis Grizzlies. Then they beat the San Antonio Spurs in a thrilling Game 7. Dirk scored 37 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. The Mavericks reached the 2006 NBA Finals to play the Miami Heat.
The Mavericks took an early 2–0 lead in the Finals. But they lost a big lead in Game 3. Dirk struggled with his shooting in the last three games. The Mavericks lost the series 4–2 to the Heat. Dirk said it was a tough loss that changed everything.
In the 2006–07 NBA season, Dirk had a career-best shooting year. He averaged 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. He led the Mavericks to a team record of 67 wins. He also became one of only five players in NBA history to join the 50–40–90 club. This means he shot 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line. Dirk was expected to lead the Mavericks to an easy win in the playoffs. But they lost to the eighth-seed Golden State Warriors in six games. This was a big upset in NBA history. Despite the playoff loss, Dirk was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player. He was the first European player to win this award.
The 2007–08 NBA season saw another early playoff exit. The Mavericks lost to the New Orleans Hornets in five games. Dirk averaged 23.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and a career-high 3.5 assists. He also got his first career triple-double (29 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists). He became the Mavericks' all-time leading scorer.
In the 2008–09 NBA season, Dirk averaged 25.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He was chosen for his eighth All-Star game. Dallas upset the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. But they lost to the Denver Nuggets in the second round.
The Mavericks finished the 2009–10 NBA season as the second seed. New players like Shawn Marion and Caron Butler joined the team. On January 13, 2010, Dirk became the 34th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. He was the first European to do so. He was selected for his ninth All-Star Game. The Mavericks lost to the San Antonio Spurs again in the first round of the playoffs. After the season, Dirk signed a new contract to stay with Dallas.
Championship Season (2010–2011)
Before the 2010–11 NBA season, the Mavericks added center Tyson Chandler. Dirk was injured during the season but still averaged 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. He was chosen for his tenth All-Star Game. The Mavericks beat Portland in the first round of the playoffs. Then they swept the two-time defending champion Lakers.
In the Conference Finals, they faced the Oklahoma City Thunder. In Game 1, Dirk scored 48 points. He set an NBA record by making 24 free throws in a row without a miss. In Game 4, Dirk scored 40 points to help his team come back from a big deficit. Dallas won the Western Conference title in Game 5.
In the 2011 NBA Finals, Dallas played the Miami Heat again. The Heat had added superstars LeBron James and Chris Bosh. In Game 1, Dirk injured his left middle finger. But he kept playing. In Game 2, he led a big comeback to tie the series. In Game 4, Dirk played with a high fever. He made the winning shot to tie the series again. This reminded people of Michael Jordan's "Flu Game." Dallas went on to win the next two games. Dirk scored 10 points in the fourth quarter of the final game. The Mavericks won their first championship ever! Dirk was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
After the Championship (2011–2019)
2011–12 Season: Naismith Legacy Award
After the championship, the NBA had a player lockout. The Mavericks lost some key players. Dirk made his 11th straight All-Star game. Dallas made the playoffs but lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in four games.
2012–13 Season: Surgery and Missing Playoffs
Dirk had knee surgery in October 2012 and missed the first 27 games. On April 14, 2013, Dirk scored his 25,000th point. He was the 17th player in NBA history to do so. The Mavericks missed the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.
2013–14 Season: Magic Johnson Award
On January 29, 2014, Dirk scored his 26,000th point. On April 8, 2014, he passed Oscar Robertson to become 10th on the all-time scoring list. Dirk led the Mavericks back to the playoffs. They faced the San Antonio Spurs and lost in seven games. The Spurs went on to win the NBA championship.
2014–15 Season: 10,000 Rebounds
In July 2014, Dirk signed a new contract with the Mavericks. His former teammate Tyson Chandler rejoined the team. On November 11, 2014, Dirk passed Hakeem Olajuwon to become the highest-scoring player born outside the United States. He also became the fourth player to score 27,000 points with the same team. On December 26, he passed Elvin Hayes for eighth place on the all-time scoring list. He then passed Moses Malone for seventh place. He got his 10,000th career rebound in March 2015. He also scored his 28,000th career point in April. The Mavericks made the playoffs but lost to the Houston Rockets.
2015–16 Season: Final Playoff Appearance
On December 23, 2015, Dirk passed Shaquille O'Neal for sixth place on the NBA's career scoring list. On February 21, 2016, he became the sixth player in NBA history to reach 29,000 career points. In March, he scored 40 points in a game. This was his first 40-point game since 2014. The Mavericks made the playoffs but lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2016–17 Season: 30,000 Points
On March 7, 2017, Dirk became the sixth player in NBA history to score 30,000 regular-season points. He was the first international player to reach this milestone. He was also one of only three players to score all 30,000-plus points with one team. The Mavericks missed the playoffs that season.
2017–18 Season: Injury
On February 5, 2018, Dirk played his 50,000th career minute. On February 28, 2018, he reached 31,000 career points. On March 17, 2018, he played in his 1,463rd game. This moved him past Kevin Garnett for fifth place in NBA career games played. He had ankle surgery in April and missed the rest of the season. The Mavericks missed the playoffs again.
2018–19 Season: Saying Goodbye
On July 23, 2018, Dirk signed for his final season. On December 13, 2018, he set an NBA record. He played 21 seasons with the same team, breaking Kobe Bryant's record. He was also one of only five players to play 21 seasons in total. Dirk was named to his 14th All-Star game. On March 18, 2019, he passed Wilt Chamberlain to become the sixth-highest scoring player of all time.
In his last home game on April 9, Dirk scored 30 points. He announced his retirement in an emotional ceremony. Many famous players like Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen came to honor him. The next day, he played his final NBA game. He scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a loss to the Spurs.
Playing for Germany
Dirk started playing for the German national team in 1997. In his first big tournament, EuroBasket 1999, he was the main scorer. But Germany finished seventh.
In EuroBasket 2001, Dirk was the top scorer. Germany reached the semi-finals but lost a close game to Turkey. They then lost to Spain and did not win a medal. But Dirk led the tournament in points and rebounds. He was also voted to the All-Star team.
Dirk won his first medal when he led Germany to a bronze medal in the 2002 FIBA World Championship. He scored 10 points in the last quarter against Spain to win. In the semi-finals, they lost to Argentina. But Germany beat New Zealand to win the bronze. Dirk was the tournament's top scorer and was named the MVP.
In EuroBasket 2005, Dirk led a German team that was missing some players. They beat strong teams like Slovenia and Spain to reach the Finals. Dirk scored the winning basket against Spain with only seconds left. They lost the Finals to Greece. But Dirk was the tournament's leading scorer and rebounder. He was also voted the Most Valuable Player. When he left the game, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. He called it "one of the best moments of [his] career." Germany won a silver medal.
Dirk led Germany to a fifth-place finish in EuroBasket 2007. This meant Germany could play in a special tournament to qualify for the Olympics. Dirk led Germany to a big win over Puerto Rico. This sent the German basketball team to their first Olympics since 1992. Dirk was chosen to carry the flag for Germany at the Opening Ceremony in Beijing. Germany finished tenth in the Olympics.
Dirk did not play in some later tournaments. In 2015, he was the captain for Germany at the EuroBasket. They were eliminated in the group stage. In January 2016, Dirk officially retired from the German national team. He averaged 19.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in his international career.
Dirk won many awards for his play in Europe. He was named "European Basketball Player of the Year" multiple times. In September 2022, the German Basketball Federation retired his number 14 jersey. This ceremony happened before Germany's EuroBasket opening game.
Dirk's Playing Style
Dirk Nowitzki was a very flexible player. He mostly played power forward. But he could also play center and small forward. He was an amazing shooter for his height. He made 88% of his free throws, almost 50% of his shots from the field, and almost 40% of his three-point shots. He even won the 2006 NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest. In the 2006–07 season, he joined the special 50–40–90 Club.
Dirk's shooting was hard to stop. He was 7 feet tall and shot the ball from high above his head. This made it very difficult for defenders to block his shots. LeBron James once called Dirk's one-legged fadeaway shot the second most unstoppable move ever. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's skyhook was better.
Dirk could also dribble and drive to the basket like smaller players. He was praised for being so versatile. Charles Barkley joked that the best way to guard Dirk was to "get a cigarette and a blindfold." Later in his career, Dirk also developed a unique way of playing with his back to the basket.
Dirk was the sixth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points. He was the first European to do so. He holds many records for the Dallas Mavericks. He was an NBA All-Star 14 times. He was also named to the All-NBA Team 12 times. He won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2007. He also won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in 2011.
Dirk is the only player to have at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, 1,200 steals, 1,250 blocks, and 1,500 three-pointers.
NBA Career Statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Dallas | 47 | 24 | 20.4 | .405 | .206 | .773 | 3.4 | 1.0 | .6 | .6 | 8.2 |
| 1999–00 | Dallas | 82 | 81 | 35.8 | .461 | .379 | .830 | 6.5 | 2.5 | .8 | .8 | 17.5 |
| 2000–01 | Dallas | 82 | 82* | 38.1 | .474 | .387 | .838 | 9.2 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 21.8 |
| 2001–02 | Dallas | 76 | 76 | 38.0 | .477 | .397 | .853 | 9.9 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 23.4 |
| 2002–03 | Dallas | 80 | 80 | 39.0 | .463 | .379 | .881 | 9.9 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 25.1 |
| 2003–04 | Dallas | 77 | 77 | 37.9 | .462 | .341 | .877 | 8.7 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 21.8 |
| 2004–05 | Dallas | 78 | 78 | 38.7 | .459 | .399 | .869 | 9.7 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 26.1 |
| 2005–06 | Dallas | 81 | 81 | 38.1 | .480 | .406 | .901 | 9.0 | 2.8 | .7 | 1.0 | 26.6 |
| 2006–07 | Dallas | 78 | 78 | 36.2 | .502 | .416 | .904 | 8.9 | 3.4 | .7 | .8 | 24.6 |
| 2007–08 | Dallas | 77 | 77 | 36.0 | .479 | .359 | .879 | 8.6 | 3.5 | .7 | .9 | 23.6 |
| 2008–09 | Dallas | 81 | 81 | 37.7 | .479 | .359 | .890 | 8.4 | 2.4 | .8 | .8 | 25.9 |
| 2009–10 | Dallas | 81 | 80 | 37.5 | .481 | .421 | .915 | 7.7 | 2.7 | .9 | 1.0 | 25.0 |
| 2010–11† | Dallas | 73 | 73 | 34.3 | .517 | .393 | .892 | 7.0 | 2.6 | .5 | .6 | 23.0 |
| 2011–12 | Dallas | 62 | 62 | 33.5 | .457 | .368 | .896 | 6.8 | 2.2 | .7 | .5 | 21.6 |
| 2012–13 | Dallas | 53 | 47 | 31.3 | .471 | .414 | .860 | 6.8 | 2.5 | .7 | .7 | 17.3 |
| 2013–14 | Dallas | 80 | 80 | 32.9 | .497 | .398 | .899 | 6.2 | 2.7 | .9 | .6 | 21.7 |
| 2014–15 | Dallas | 77 | 77 | 29.6 | .459 | .380 | .882 | 5.9 | 1.9 | .5 | .4 | 17.3 |
| 2015–16 | Dallas | 75 | 75 | 31.5 | .448 | .368 | .893 | 6.5 | 1.8 | .7 | .7 | 18.3 |
| 2016–17 | Dallas | 54 | 54 | 26.4 | .437 | .378 | .875 | 6.5 | 1.5 | .6 | .7 | 14.2 |
| 2017–18 | Dallas | 77 | 77 | 24.7 | .456 | .409 | .898 | 5.7 | 1.6 | .6 | .6 | 12.0 |
| 2018–19 | Dallas | 51 | 20 | 15.6 | .359 | .312 | .780 | 3.1 | .7 | .2 | .4 | 7.3 |
| Career | 1,522 | 1,460 | 33.8 | .471 | .380 | .879 | 7.5 | 2.4 | .8 | .8 | 20.7 | |
| All-Star | 14 | 2 | 16.2 | .450 | .290 | .875 | 3.7 | 1.1 | .7 | .4 | 8.7 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Dallas | 10 | 10 | 39.9 | .423 | .283 | .883 | 8.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | .8 | 23.4 |
| 2002 | Dallas | 8 | 8 | 44.6 | .445 | .571 | .878 | 13.1 | 2.3 | 2.0 | .8 | 28.4 |
| 2003 | Dallas | 17 | 17 | 42.5 | .479 | .443 | .912 | 11.5 | 2.2 | 1.2 | .9 | 25.3 |
| 2004 | Dallas | 5 | 5 | 42.4 | .450 | .467 | .857 | 11.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 26.6 |
| 2005 | Dallas | 13 | 13 | 42.4 | .402 | .333 | .829 | 10.1 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 23.7 |
| 2006 | Dallas | 23 | 23 | 42.7 | .468 | .343 | .895 | 11.7 | 2.9 | 1.1 | .6 | 27.0 |
| 2007 | Dallas | 6 | 6 | 39.8 | .383 | .211 | .840 | 11.3 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 19.7 |
| 2008 | Dallas | 5 | 5 | 42.2 | .473 | .333 | .808 | 12.0 | 4.0 | .2 | 1.4 | 26.8 |
| 2009 | Dallas | 10 | 10 | 39.5 | .518 | .286 | .925 | 10.1 | 3.1 | .9 | .8 | 26.8 |
| 2010 | Dallas | 6 | 6 | 38.8 | .547 | .571 | .952 | 8.2 | 3.0 | .8 | .7 | 26.7 |
| 2011† | Dallas | 21 | 21 | 39.3 | .485 | .460 | .941 | 8.1 | 2.5 | .6 | .6 | 27.7 |
| 2012 | Dallas | 4 | 4 | 38.5 | .442 | .167 | .905 | 6.3 | 1.8 | .8 | .0 | 26.8 |
| 2014 | Dallas | 7 | 7 | 37.6 | .429 | .083 | .806 | 8.0 | 1.6 | .9 | .9 | 19.1 |
| 2015 | Dallas | 5 | 5 | 36.2 | .452 | .235 | .929 | 10.2 | 2.4 | .4 | .4 | 21.2 |
| 2016 | Dallas | 5 | 5 | 34.0 | .494 | .364 | .941 | 5.0 | 1.6 | .4 | .6 | 20.4 |
| Career | 145 | 145 | 40.7 | .462 | .365 | .892 | 10.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .9 | 25.3 | |
Career Highlights and Awards
- NBA
- NBA Finals MVP: 2011
- NBA Most Valuable Player: 2007
- 14× NBA All-Star: 2002–2012, 2014–2015, 2019
- 12× All-NBA Team: 2001–2012
- 4× First Team: 2005–2007, 2009
- 5× Second Team: 2002–2003, 2008, 2010–2011
- 3× Third Team: 2001, 2004, 2012
- NBA Three-Point Contest champion: 2006
- NBA Shooting Stars champion: 2010
- NBA Teammate of the Year: 2017
- Ranked 6th in all-time scoring
- Ranked 5th in all-time defensive rebounds
- Ranked 2nd in all-time NBA Finals free throw percentage
- 82 consecutive free throws made in the regular season (third-longest streak ever)
- 26 consecutive free throws made in the Finals (longest streak ever)
- One of three players with at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, 1,000 steals and 1,000 blocks
- One of eight members of the 50–40–90 club: 2007
- Holds the record for most seasons with one team (21)
- Holds the record for most games played with only one team (1,522)
- German National Basketball Team
- 2002 FIBA World Championship: bronze medal, MVP, top scorer
- EuroBasket 2005: silver medal, MVP, top scorer
- Leading scorer in the history of the senior German national basketball team (3,045 points in 153 international games)
- Other Awards
- German League MVP: 1999
- 6× Euroscar: 2002–2006, 2011
- 2× FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year: 2005, 2011
- Mr. Europa: 2005
- German national flag bearer at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Best NBA Player ESPY Award: 2011
- Best Male Athlete ESPY Award: 2011
- German Sports Personality of the Year: 2011
- Naismith Legacy Award: 2012
- Magic Johnson Award: 2014
- Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: 2020
Dirk's Personal Life
Dirk's older sister, Silke, says he is a confident but humble person. He enjoys reading and playing the saxophone. Dirk also started the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation. This charity helps fight poverty in Africa.
Dirk married Jessica Olsson in 2012. They have a daughter and two sons. Dirk has thought about becoming a U.S. citizen, but he is still a German citizen.
Dirk is very close to his mentor, Holger Geschwindner. He also has a strong friendship with his former teammate, Steve Nash. Nash said their friendship was "something solid in a very volatile world." Dirk is also a big fan of association football (soccer). He supports the team Arsenal F.C..
Honors and Tributes
On October 30, 2019, a street in Dallas was renamed Nowitzki Way. It runs past the American Airlines Center, where the Mavericks play. In December 2019, Dirk received a special award from the German President. This was for his work in the community.
On January 5, 2022, the Mavericks retired Dirk's number 41 jersey. This means no other Mavericks player will ever wear that number. On the same night, a design for a statue of Nowitzki was shown. The statue was put up outside the American Airlines Center on Christmas Day that year.
Another statue of Dirk Nowitzki was put up in Frankfurt, Germany, on October 12, 2023. This bronze statue shows Dirk sitting on a bench. It invites people to sit next to him.
Images for kids
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Nowitzki (#41) was the face of the Mavericks franchise from 2004 to 2019.
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Nowitzki, 2008
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Nowitzki shoots his fade-away jump shot in 2008.
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Nowitzki posting up Rashard Lewis in 2011
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Nowitzki in 2013
See also
- List of NBA career games played leaders
- List of NBA career scoring leaders
- List of NBA career rebounding leaders
- List of NBA career 3-point scoring leaders
- List of NBA career free throw scoring leaders
- List of NBA career minutes played leaders
- List of NBA career playoff scoring leaders
- List of NBA career playoff rebounding leaders
- List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders
- List of NBA franchise career scoring leaders
- List of NBA seasons played leaders
- List of European basketball players in the United States
