Mavs WATCH: Dirk HOF - ‘I Didn’t Know How Career Would Play Out’
UNCASVILLE, CT — Ahead of Saturday's Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, each inductee participated in a press conference, including Dallas Mavericks icon Dirk Nowitzki.
"It's been amazing ride," Nowitzki said. "When I first got to Dallas, I didn't know how this was gonna play out. I wasn't sure whether I was good enough, whether I can make it in this league. We just kept getting better as a team.
"Individually, I got better," Nowitzki explained. "Mark Cuban buying the team my second year helped a lot. He was a big supporter of mine and became a good friend.
“He's been super loyal to me, so it kind of, sort of organically grew together. I was getting part of the community and, I was getting the support back. And so it feels amazing that I've been able to be there for the entire career. Very proud to say that I was always happy to represent the Dallas Mavericks.”
Nowitzki, who spent an NBA record 21 seasons with the Mavs, was asked a wide-range of questions. He spoke about his general impact on the game of basketball, his loyalty to Dallas, winning the 2011 NBA Finals, influence on European basketball, being inducted alongside some of the top rivals he encountered in his NBA career, and more.
Nowitzki is being inducted into the Hall of Fame in part of a storied 2023 class that includes Dwyane Wade, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, and Gregg Popovich, among others.
Nowitzki's full press conference can be viewed in the embedded YouTube video below. Subscribe to my channel for more content about Nowitzki and the Mavs throughout the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season.
The enshrinement ceremony will take place on Saturday, Aug. 12, and will be broadcasted live on NBA-TV. Check back with DallasBasketball.com for more coverage of Nowitzki's Hall of Fame weekend.
Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Mavericks? Click Here. Follow DallasBasketball.com on Twitter and Facebook.
