Status: 04/01/2023 6:40 p.m
According to a media report, Dirk Nowitzki is one of six NBA legends who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
Basketball idol Dirk Nowitzki is the first German to be inducted into the NBA’s “Hall of Fame”. As the guardians of the Hall of Fame announced on Saturday (04/01/2023) in Houston/Texas, the Würzburg native is one of six former professionals and coaches who will receive the special honor this year.
Nowitzki played 21 seasons in the North American professional league with the Dallas Mavericks, retiring from playing in 2019. He is the sixth-best points-scorer in league history (31,560) and the highest-grossing scorer born outside of the United States.
Nowitzki 14-time Allstar
With the Mavericks, who took his shirt number 41 under the hall ceiling in January 2022, the “German prodigy” Nowitzki became the 2011 NBA champion and most valuable player in the finals. Nowitzki was voted Allstar 14 times. In front of the arena in Dallas was Christmas 2022 a statue of the Würzburger unveiled.
Also present are Pau Gasol, Tony Parker and Dwyane Wade
In addition to the 44-year-old, other legends of the league are also being honored: Pau Gasol (Spain) and Tony Parker (France) are also included, as is Dwyane Wade, who caused a sensation alongside superstar LeBron James with the Miami Heat for several years.
“I think there were a couple of guys who paved the way for us a little bit,” Nowitzki said, referring to his European colleagues Parker and Gasol: “If we help make the game really global and help some kids in the process helping, of course that makes us very humble.”
Iconic coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs and coach Becky Hammon, who became his assistant and the first woman to coach an NBA team at a game, were also chosen. The ceremonial induction into the Hall of Fame will take place in August.
Source: sportschau.de