Nowitzki officially announces retirement

Dirk Nowitzki finally confirmed what the basketball world has been assuming all season, but it took a heartfelt display of career reflection and nostalgic chants of “M-V-P” to get him to say it aloud.

“This was my last home game, as you might expect,” Nowitzki told the packed American Airlines Center crowd.

“This is clearly extremely emotional. There are just too many individuals to express my gratitude to. I’ve taken you all on a rollercoaster journey with numerous highs and lows, but you’ve always remained by my side and supported me, for which I am very grateful.”

In a blink, the most accomplished player in Mavericks history officially concluded his 21-year-long, future Hall-of-Fame career. Nowitzki ascended from an obscure foreign Draft prospect to a league MVP and NBA champion, transforming the game with his unique blend of height and shooting finesse. He elevated Dallas from its slump, making it a perennial contender and garnering respect across the league.

This and so much more led Mavericks fans to fervently chant “THANK YOU DIRK” to Nowitzki, as heartfelt as their previous chants. This followed messages of respect and gratitude from NBA legends present at the event. Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, Shawn Kemp, and fellow German Detlef Schrempf honored the player, who was featured in an old video mentioning them as his childhood idols from his time growing up in Germany.

“Nowitzki said, ‘MJ was the only one missing.’ He was referring to Michael Jordan, the player whose record he broke to become the oldest to score at least 30 points in a game. ‘That was my number one. They brought in Larry Legend. Seeing all five of them was an emotional moment for me. I was truly shocked.'”

Nowitzki chose not to disclose his retirement plans as he didn’t desire a farewell tour. However, he also mentioned that he only started considering retirement seriously when he faced problems 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 expected to occur again on Wednesday night in San Antonio. Nowitzki confessed that he exerted nearly all his energy in the last home game, yet he aspires to make a few more jump shots against what is likely the most significant rival of his career.

However, at Tuesday’s ceremony, owner Mark Cuban only had words of praise and affection for Nowitzki.

“Cuban said, “I can’t possibly put into words how crucial you have been to this organization, but I can certainly make many promises to you.”

“I assure you that your job is secure for life, regardless of your actions. Your number will be retired without question and we will erect the largest statue ever, situated right at the entrance of the arena. I promise you these things.”

Despite being amidst numerous legends, the night was owned by Nowitzki, the sole player among them to have exceeded 30,000 career points. The individual responsible for this accomplishment and legacy, the 7-foot German stated, will persist in Dallas long after he retires from playing.

“Nowitzki announced his new home to an approving uproar, “I became a Texan more than 20 years ago when I left Germany.”

Nowitzki confessed that he had experienced a few emotional breakdowns in private recently, after making the decision to retire. This includes the day of his final home game, where he became emotional with his wife, Jessica Nowitzki, after dressing in the suit he wore to the arena.

The 2007 MVP and 2011 NBA Finals MVP of the league was also aware of the physical challenges he faced in the past two seasons. This included being absent for the first 26 games of his last season due to a longer recovery period from ankle surgery in April. Nowitzki was also dealing with issues in his feet and ankles towards the end of this season.

“Getting ready every night at 40 is a lot, especially coupled with the foot pain,” said Nowitzki. “This slightly diminished the enjoyment I get from the sport I love, which in turn made my decision to retire easier.”

The foreign-born player with the most points in NBA history, boasting 31,540 points, has one game remaining. This season, Nowitzki surpassed 10,000 defensive rebounds – a feat that excited fans who passionately celebrated almost every shot he made, including these moments.

The sole 7-footer who clinched victory in the All-Star 3-point shooting contest was the pioneer player of such height to genuinely pose a threat beyond the arc. This added dimension to the game, which was acknowledged by the most prominent stars of the game, revolutionized it. Many of these stars adopted his characteristic one-legged fadeaway jumper – the same move he executed for his last home bucket deep into the fourth quarter.

“During the postgame ceremony, Kemp expressed, ‘Your intention was to improve the game from where you inherited it, and you’ve accomplished that. You not only secured a championship for Dallas, but you’ve proven yourself to be a champion as well.'”

Before his final goodbye, he has one more game.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.