Dirk Nowitzki faltered, fans waved the German flag, father Jörg proudly wore a black, red and gold tie: Germany’s basketball icon Nowitzki was the first German to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. “Two words have been going through my head for months: Thank you very much. That means everything to me,” said the 45-year-old in his almost 15-minute speech. Nowitzki had already received his orange jacket the evening before. His mentor and private trainer Holger Geschwindner presented it to him on stage. The Würzburger also received a thick golden ring on the eve of his ceremonial entry into the Hall of Fame. In his humorous and touching speech on Saturday, he wore a blue suit.
“My career has been a long journey,” said Nowitzki, thanking several companions, including his ex-coach Don Nelson, former teammates Steve Nash and Jason Kidd, and Mark Cuban, the owner of his long-standing – and only – NBA club Dallas mavericks Nowitzki became emotional when he thanked his parents in the audience and briefly changed the language. “You have sacrificed so much. What you have done for me I will never forget for the rest of my life. If I become even half as good a father as you parents were for me, then I will be happy. Thank you,” said he in German
They couldn’t be missing: Dirk Nowitzki’s wife, their three children and his parents.
(Photo: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
Holger Geschwindner, who was also present, was also moved to tears. “I had to play the saxophone in a handstand with him,” said Nowitzki, causing one of the many laughs. At the very end, he thanked his wife, Jessica Olsson, and their three children, Malaika, Max, and Morris.
In 2007, Nowitzki was the first European to be voted Most Valuable Player (MVP), i.e. the most valuable player in the league. In 2011 he became the first German to win the NBA title. With 31,560 points, he is in sixth place on the “all-time” list of the best. Along with Nowitzki, legendary coach Gregg Popovich was inducted, as were Spaniard Pau Gasol and Frenchman Tony Parker into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
Three new Hall of Famers: Becky Hammon (left), Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade on stage in Springfield, Massachusetts.
(Photo: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
“I’m not good at public speeches, I’m not good in the limelight,” Nowitzki said before his speech, he was “of course a little nervous.” His nervousness was also noticeable – but he will remember the pride he showed at the end of his speech.