Basketball Hall of Fame – Nowitzki: Hall of Fame admission is ‘the top of the mountain’

Dirk Nowitzki doesn’t like being the center of attention, but he still looks forward to a weekend getaway on the East Coast of the United States. Then his sport would give him the greatest honor possible.

Four years after the end of his impressive career, Dirk Nowitzki is once again on the big stage – and then he hopes to say goodbye to public festivities.

“The absolute icing on the cake”

“It’s been a lot about me the past few years.”Note the most successful German basketball player is in front of the biggest honor in his branch: induction into the Hall of Fame, named after the inventor of the sport. Naismith Hall of Fame.

“It’s a perfect cake for me. I’m really looking forward to Springfield. It’s going to be an amazing week with friends and families from all over the world.”Nowitzki said recently in a video session with German journalists. On August 11, the 45-year-old from Würzburg will receive the traditional hoodie and Hall of Fame ring, and the next day he will be officially admitted to Springfield.

The letter is already in place

Würzburger had already decided on blue as his suit color. The letter is already confirmed, on paper at least, when it travels to the US East Coast in the coming days. No German had gone down this path before him, as now the Spaniard Pau Gasol and the Frenchman Tony Parker from Europe have succeeded in it. Both are worthy NBA pros – but they just couldn’t put a stamp on the big league like Nowitzki.

“Sitting next to Michael Jordan is great. But to have the opportunity to sit next to Dirk who opened the way for all of us is more than just a great feeling for me.”Said the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo when he was the only European to be included in the list of the 75 best players in NBA history along with Nowitzki.

Nowitzki, whose iconic backhand throw not only served as the model for a giant statue in Dallas but changed the entire sport for years before that, left a deep mark on the NBA. He led the Mavericks to the first and only championship in their history, was the first European to be named the league’s Most Valuable Player and is number six on the all-time leading scorer list.

Wagner: “Horizons broadened”

Current German internationals have highlighted Nowitzki’s leading role. “It’s a world away for us here in Europe, the NBA. It’s shown us that anything is possible,” he said. said Moritz Wagner. Novitsky “Broaden the horizon even for the Germans, who sometimes look a little straight.” Dennis Schroeder said that the 45-year-old represented German basketball at the highest level in the United States.

Because of all these accomplishments, there’s a street in Dallas that bears his name, said statue in front of the American Airlines Center, and, in the arena, his jersey number 41 under the awning, which no other Mavericks player would ever wear. once again. In view of the accumulation of festivities, friends would ask him: “Do you want us to come back and celebrate you?” It’s everything “a little” Reportedly – yet illustrates the importance of being inducted into the Hall of Fame, which is difficult for German sports fans to comprehend.

Finish ‘all’ parties “

“It’s a really, really big moment. There’s no such thing in Germany, but since the move I’ve realized how big it really is.”Nowitzki said. During his career, he followed the tirades of Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, the absolute icons for every basketball fan. So once again friends, former colleagues, rivals and comrades will stand with Nowitzki on Sunday night in Germany. “More than 150 of my crew will be coming. I also see that this is the end of all the festivities and I hope things calm down a little later and there aren’t any big things to do for now.”

For Dirk Nowitzki, being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame marks the end of an entire chapter in his life. “Nothing else can come of a basketball career”said the 45-year-old from Würzburg at the press conference the day before the ceremony on the east coast in the United States. “The Hall of Fame is the top of the mountain, it ends this phase of my life.”

Frenchman Tony Parker, who, like Nowitzki, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday night in Germany, spoke with the greatest respect for his longtime foe. “Dirk paved the way. I always say that Dirk is the goat for all European players. He showed that teams can trust European players as players of excellence.” Goat is the English acronym for “The Greatest of All Time”. “I was so honored”Nowitzki said. “When I can help and inspire others, I feel so happy.”