Nowitzki officially announces retirement
Dirk Nowitzki finally verbalized what the basketball community has been presuming all season, but it took a sincere show of career retrospection and nostalgic chants of “M-V-P”.
“Nowitzki announced to the packed American Airlines Center, “As you might anticipate, this was my final home game.”
“This is extremely emotional for me, beyond words can express. There are countless people to whom I owe gratitude. I’ve taken you all on a roller coaster of highs and lows, but through it all, you have remained by my side and supported me. For that, I am truly grateful.”
The greatest player in the history of the Mavericks has officially retired after a stellar 21-year, future Hall-of-Fame career. Nowitzki, who started as an obscure foreign Draft prospect, climbed the ranks to become a league MVP and NBA champion. He transformed the game with his unique blend of height and shooting skills. In the process, he uplifted Dallas from its low point to constant competition and universal admiration.
In gratitude for his contributions and more, Mavericks’ fans dedicated a heartfelt chant to Nowitzki, saying “THANK YOU DIRK”. This followed tributes from NBA legends in attendance, including Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, Shawn Kemp, and fellow countryman Detlef Schrempf. These legends spoke in honor of Nowitzki, who was shown in a vintage video listing them as his idols while growing up in Germany.
“Nowitzki said, “MJ was the only one missing,” referring to Michael Jordan, the player he outdid by becoming the oldest to score at least 30 in a game. “He was my top pick. They brought Larry Legend. It was truly an emotional moment seeing all five of them. I was really in shock.”
Nowitzki chose not to disclose his retirement plans as he didn’t desire a farewell tour. However, he also admitted that he only started seriously considering retirement when he began experiencing issues with his lower body towards the end of the season.
The 14-time All-Star got the farewell treatment on the road anyway, with opposing fans chanting “We want Dirk” and giving him standing ovations, and LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers stopping a game, grabbing a public address microphone and honoring Nowitzki.
The season finale for Dallas is set to occur Wednesday night in San Antonio, and it should be a repeated occurrence. Nowitzki admits to giving his all during the final home game, but he wants to make a few more jump shots against what could be the biggest rival of his career.
However, during Tuesday’s ceremony, owner Mark Cuban expressed nothing but admiration and affection for Nowitzki.
“Cuban said, “I can’t possibly express in words how much you mean to this organization, but I can make all sorts of promises to you.”
“I assure you, you will have lifelong employment. Regardless of what you do, I give you my word. We’ll honor you by retiring your number, an easy decision to make. I also guarantee we’ll erect the largest statue ever and place it right in front of the arena.”
Despite being surrounded by numerous legends, the night was all about Nowitzki, who stood out as the only one to have netted over 30,000 career points. The 7-foot German, responsible for this incredible achievement and legacy, affirmed that he will stay in Dallas long after his basketball career concludes.
“Nowitzki announced to a wave of applause, “This is my new home. I left Germany over 20 years ago and became a Texan.”
Nowitzki admitted that he had experienced a few emotional breakdowns in private since he recently decided to retire. This included a moment on the day of his final home game, when he was with his wife, Jessica Nowitzki, after dressing up in the suit he wore to the arena.
The 2007 MVP and 2011 NBA Finals MVP of the league also understood the physical challenges of the past two seasons. This included being absent for the first 26 games of his last season due to a prolonged recovery from ankle surgery in April of the previous year. Late this season, Nowitzki was dealing with recurring issues in his feet and ankles.
“Getting ready every night at 40 takes a lot, especially with the foot pain,” said Nowitzki. “It somewhat diminished the fun I have for the sport I love. This actually made my decision easier.”
The foreign-born player with the highest score in NBA history has amassed 31,540 points, with one game still remaining. This season, Nowitzki surpassed 10,000 defensive rebounds, an achievement that sent fans into a frenzy every time he made a shot, even celebrating these moments.
The sole 7-footer to claim victory in the All-Star 3-point shooting contest was also the pioneer player of his stature to pose a real threat from behind the arc. All the biggest stars in the game agree that this aspect altered the game’s dynamics, with many adopting his trademark one-legged fadeaway jumper – a shot he utilized for his last home bucket in the late fourth quarter.
“Your aim was to improve the game from where you found it, and you’ve achieved that,” Kemp stated in the postgame ceremony. “You didn’t just deliver a championship to Dallas, you yourself are a champion.”
With one more match before his final farewell.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
