Name: Dirk Nowitzki
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Born: June 19th, 1978
Position: Power Forward
Awards & Recognition:
- 5-time NBA All-Star
- 2002 World Basketball Championships MVP
- 6-time All-NBA Team
- NBA All-Star game 3-point shootout champion
- 2005 FIBA Player of the Year
Background: Born in Würzburg, Germany, Dirk Nowitzki (pronounced Noh-Vit-ski) came from an athletic family. His mother played basketball, and his father played handball. Nowtizki didn't play college basketball, because he was drafted into the German military, but he did play professionally in Germany, during his military stint. The NBA took notice of his size and superior skills, and after his military time, he became the first NBA player who had not attended either an American high school or college.
Early Life in the NBA: Nowitzki was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 9th overall pick in 1998. He was immediately traded to Dallas, because of a pre-arranged deal between the two clubs, and Nowitzki has since played all of his eight NBA seasons with the Mavericks. After a disappointing rookie season, in which he averaged just 8 points per game, Nowitzki headed back to Germany in the offseason to hone his skills.
NBA Highlighs: Nowitzki's German sabbatical turned out to be just the right medicine, as he averaged 17 points in his second season and has never averaged less than 22 points per game since. A prolific scorer, the 7-0, 245-pound Nowitzki offers a unique blend of outside shooting and inside strength. He peaked in 2005-06, with 26 points and nine rebounds per game, leading the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
