At an emotional ceremony, Dirk Nowitzki is given a great honour: His jersey number 41 is pulled under the hall roof of the Dallas Mavericks and henceforth no longer given. The player from Würzburg expresses his gratitude – especially emotional – to his wife.
Dirk Nowitzki wiped tears from his eyes several times. During the memorable video sequences and emotional words during his jersey ceremony, the 43-year-old former basketball superstar was overcome with emotion. “It has been a breathtaking journey. What a special ceremony,” said Nowitzki, whose jersey with back number 41 was immortalised under the Dallas Mavericks’ indoor roof on Wednesday night (local time) after an unprecedented career. The number 41 will henceforth no longer be issued at the Texas club, which Nowitzki helped to become an NBA champion in 2011.
With wife Jessica and his three children Malaika, Max and Morris, Nowitzki enjoyed the emotional celebration, which was attended by league boss Adam Silver and Mavs owner Mark Cuban as well as numerous teammates from the former championship team. When it was the Würzburg native’s own turn, he pulled a cheat sheet out of his pocket and delivered a whimsical acceptance speech over the course of about 20 minutes.
Warm words from the Commissioner
A very special thank you was given to his family. “Jess, you are the backbone of our family and keep this place running. You are the best wife and the best mother. I love you,” said Nowitzki, who played exclusively for the Mavericks from 1998 to 2019 and has been enjoying his life as a private and family man for just under three years. To his own offspring, he said: “Find your passion and work hard. I love you guys and I’m proud of you. “
Following the Dallas game against the Golden State Warriors (99:82), the announced ceremony had begun at the American Airlines Center. Nowitzki wanted to be surprised what was in store for him. NBA commissioner Silver said right at the beginning that he had never seen such a ceremony. “Dirk, they love you not only here in Dallas, but all over the world. Twenty-one years with one team, and you brought a championship to that team,” Silver said.
Nowitzki will also receive a statue
Current Mavericks coach Jason Kidd – formerly Nowitzki’s teammate – spoke on behalf of that team that won the first and still only title in club history ten and a half years ago. “What a journey. An incredible journey. You have set standards of what it means to win and to work. On behalf of the championship team, I want to say “thank you”: just for being you. You were always a champion,” said Kidd, who donned a green Nowitzki jersey after his coaching job was done.
It was an entertaining celebration, with officials once again reminiscing about Nowitzki. The 2.13-metre tall giant once again told the anecdote of how he was euphorically welcomed by hundreds of people at the airport in Dallas in 1998. “A few years later I found out they weren’t fans, they were employees of the club who were sent out,” said Nowitzki, who will soon receive a statue in addition to a street and jersey honour named after him. Club boss Cuban has already unveiled it in miniature form – and announced, “It’s going to be in front of the arena – and the next arena and the arena after that. And it will be big. “
