Rumors

Dirk Nowitzki: I signed that four-year deal and we won the championship in the first year after that. So… Graham Bensinger: And it required you sacrificing a lot financially. Nowitkzi: Yeah, I could have signed a max deal and I decided to take a little less to me at that point. I had already done everything individually: All-Star, whatever, bunch of times and MVP or whatever. I mean, you probably left somewhere between 70 and 90 million. Nowitzki: That's later overall, at that contract I didn't leave that much.

YouTube

There are moments in Los Angeles when basketball feels less like a game and more like a living, breathing fraternity. Wednesday night was one of them. Luka Doncic hosted his “77x.world” event in L.A., a sleek celebration of his growing global brand, stitched together with fashion, hoops culture and that unmistakable No. 77 swagger. Fans were given a meet and greet, the room was full of influencers and executives and then a couple familiar faces walked in. First it was Doncic’s old teammate with the Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki.

New York Post

Marc Stein: Dirk Nowitzki's spokesman Scott Tomlin tells @TheSteinLine that Nowitzki is not part of the reported investor group headed by former Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson that is in talks to buy a basketball franchise in Italy.

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Doncic, 26, whom Donnie Nelson acquired in a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks in 2018, is part of his group of investors, sources in American and European basketball with knowledge of Nelson’s plans told The Athletic. While the Milan-based sports publication La Gazzetta Dello Sport reported that Dirk Nowitzki was also a part of Nelson’s group, his spokesman, Scott Tomlin, said that was not the case. According to one of the sources, Rimas Kaukenas, a Lithuanian legend as a player who was a longtime star in Italy, is also part of the group.

New York Times

What was the toughest crowd that you all played against during your years? Dirk Nowitzki: Well, Sacramento was tough in early 2000s, but I'm going to go with the Oracle at Oakland, the We Believe team. I hate thinking back of that year 06-07, which was my MVP year. We were the first seed. It was the first time that eight seed beat the number one seed in a seven-game series. So that building was rocking. Baron Davis made a shot from half court almost every game they had. Nelly had them locked in. Steve Nash: Nelly versus Cuban. Nowitzki: Yeah, that was the wildest probably I've seen and well deserved. They got us.

YouTube

Oh No He Didn't: Dirk on the Mavs trading AD: "There's not a lot that came back with picks or player wise. I'm a little disappointed. I think (AD & Cooper) was a solid combo but we'll never know"

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NBA on Prime: From one generation to another. Dirk Nowitzki (@Swish41) talks with rookie Cooper Flagg about his first season in the league, the Dallas community and a whole bunch more!

Twitter

MFFL NATION: Cade Cunningham to Dirk Nowitzki: “Dirk you already know, you was the man. My city, man. Appreciate everything you did for us… I’m glad you enjoy my game.” (via @NBAonPrime)

x.com

You just saw No. 41 at the Mark Aguirre Jersey Retirement ceremony earlier this week and, to my knowledge, he and Mavericks majority owner Patrick Dumont have had an open dialogue since the spring ... months before Harrison's firing. The Mavericks badly want Nowitzki to return to the organization and have conveyed to him that he can do so in any role he chooses, but the 47-year-old has focused this season on his new job as a studio analyst for Amazon as well as his various duties and travel obligations as a FIBA board member and global ambassador for the sport's international governing body.

marcstein.substack.com

The Mavericks badly want Nowitzki to return to the organization and have conveyed to him that he can do so in any role he chooses, but the 47-year-old has focused this season on his new job as a studio analyst for Amazon as well as his various duties and travel obligations as a FIBA board member and global ambassador for the sport's international governing body.

marcstein.substack.com

Q. What's the secret to dominating on the post? Shaquille O’Neal: I think it's my fault that the game is being played the way it's played now, because when I was dominating the post, they tried to bring in centers to bring me out from the post. ‘Okay, he's good offensively. Now, let's make him play defense and let’s pick and pop.’ And then we're all products of our generation. So, I grew up watching guys that dominated the post. But you look at Nikola Jokic, he watched Dirk Nowitzki and Dirk watched Kevin Garnett and they all watched Tim Duncan; a 6-11, 7-foot player that could pop out and shoot the jumper. So it's my fault that guys are playing soft, that’s what I call it. The key to dominating the post is just making your opponent quit, bringing the force like I used to, try to elbow you in your face on purpose to see if you can handle it. So now that I know I got you going like that I got the advantage.

YouTube

Brad Townsend: Mavs say scheduled attendees for Mark Aguirre’s Thursday night jersey retirement include fellow jersey retirees Dirk Nowitzki, Ro Blackman and Derek Harper, along with Pistons great and lifelong Aguirre friend Isiah Thomas.

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NBA on Prime: Dirk Nowitzki on Cooper Flagg: “My rookie season, I shot 29% from three and it ended up being okay. We’re not worried about Cooper’s three ball.”

Twitter

Finally, regarding your future: A few months ago, Nico Harrison was dismissed as General Manager of the Dallas Mavericks. Your name keeps coming up in the media as a possible successor. Is that something you currently consider? Dirk Nowitzki: I don't think the GM role is something I'm considering right now. I always thought that when I retired, I'd immediately move into management with the Mavericks. However, the longer I was out of the business after my playing career ended, the less interesting it became to me. I think it's an incredibly intense job, 24/7, all year round. When the season is over for players and coaches and they take a break, the work for GMs just keeps going with the draft, free agency, and trade deadlines. It's an absolute full-time job that I couldn't imagine doing right now. I like my life the way it is right now. I enjoy having things going on with my roles at Prime and the FIBA Players' Committee, but I also still have plenty of time for my family and children. That's why I don't see a GM role in my immediate future.

Sports Illustrated