Basketball Hall of Fame
Nowitzki before the award: blue suit and video study
Dirk Nowitzki will receive the traditional jacket and the Hall of Fame ring this Friday. photo
© Lm Otero/AP/dpa
There is another honor for basketball star Dirk Nowitzki. Before being accepted into the Hall of Fame, the Würzburg native prepared himself conscientiously.
The departed German basketball star Dirk Nowitzki has prepared himself conscientiously for his next big honor.
“It’s a really, really big moment. There’s nothing like that in Germany, but since moving over I’ve understood how big it really is. I’ve watched a lot of speeches.” He also prepared his own speech, said the 45-year-old from Würzburg before he was accepted into the Hall of Fame in Springfield. However, he also wants to incorporate spontaneous elements.
Nowitzki will receive the traditional jacket and Hall of Fame ring this Friday and will be inducted in Springfield the following day. Other former NBA pros inducting into the Hall of Fame are Pau Gasol of Spain, France’s Tony Parker and Dwyane Wade in their first year of election. In addition, successful trainers Gregg Popovich and Becky Hammon are recognized. He has already decided on the color of his suit: “I was always in blue. Blue goes well with my blue eyes.”
When asked who he himself would like to see in the so-called “Hall of Fame”, Nowitzki said the choice of Luka Doncic was a matter of course: “Luka Doncic is a no-brainer, as they say in English. The boy is incredibly good. I get on very well with him.” Doncic is considered Nowitzki’s successor to the Dallas Mavericks, for whom the Franconian won the club’s first NBA title in 2011. Overall, he played 21 seasons for the Mavericks.
Nowitzki hopes for a similar career at Doncic. “When the time comes – we hope he plays 15 more years in Dallas – then of course I would be happy if I can move there and be there for him.” The Slovenian is 24 and has played for the Mavericks for five years.