Dirk Nowitzki: 'An Amazing Ride!' Hall of Fame Full Q&A with Dallas Mavs Icon
UNCASVILLE, CT — Ahead of being enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki participated in a press conference to reflect on his 21-year NBA career and overall basketball journey.
Here is a transcript of each question and answer from the Mavs legends' press conference:
Question: Dirk, your entire career, 21 years in Dallas, all in one city. What does that mean to you?
Answer: "Yeah, it's been amazing ride. 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 kept getting better as a team individually, I got better. Mark Cuban buying the team in my second year helped a lot. He was a big supporter of mine and became a good friend and so he's been super loyal to me, so it kind of organically grew together.
"I was getting part of the community and I was getting the support back, so it feels amazing that I've been able to be there for the entire career. I was always happy to represent the Dallas Mavericks."
Question: Even before you won it all in 2011, you were on some really good teams. What put that 2011 team just over the top?
Answer: "We sort of got hot at the right time, we weren't a heavy favorite all year long. We had some injuries. Caron Butler, unfortunately, tore his patella tendon and so we kind of came into the playoffs feeling okay about ourselves. Definitely not really hot, but it felt like we got better from series to series. I think Portland was actually our toughest series if you go back. And then we kind of, that really gave us a lot of confidence and then we beat the Lakers next.
"I think we had a bunch of older guys that had no egos that all achieved personal goals, MVPs, all star games, all sorts of things. But none of them had had won the championship. We kind of all bonded over that and fought for each other and we had a great mix. I think what the best thing was we had the roles defined, we had some great defenders, we had some scores, we had some shooters around. I think we had a great mix and obviously some great coaching around."
Question: Speaking on finals appearances and championships, you're going into to the hall with Dwyane Wade. Can you touch on those experiences back in 2006 and 2011 and the impact and type of play that Dwayne Wade is?
Answer: "We actually bonded here the last few weeks and months starting in Houston because we competed at the highest level and there was some things said on both sides. It was emotional at times. There were pretty frosty times between us. I'd say that's a good word to sum up the relationship. But you know, now that it's all said and done and competition is over, I think there is an appreciation and the respect there for each other's career.
"We had some great talks along the way now and most of the stuff that we were kind of fighting over is kind of it's kind of over and done with. And I'm happy to go in the hall with him, obviously. This is a great class. He's one of the best two guards to ever play the game, and I'm thrilled to go in with him and Pau [Gasol] and Tony [Parker] and Gregg Popovich and all of the coaches here with how they've done so much for our game. I'm happy to be a part of this class."
Question: As you were growing up as a kid playing handball in tennis to help you with your game of basketball?
Answer: "I would always recommend young players these days to try all sorts of sports. To me, we're specializing our kids way too early these days, practicing four or five times a week when they're eight years old. I just think it's way too much. I'm a complete believer of the opposite. Try all sorts of sports. It helps you in the sports you want to be good at. I think tennis was amazing from a hand-eye coordination.
"For my footwork, handball was a very rough sport, so you kind of had to use your body to get by some people. I used all these other experiences in different sports to help me later on in my basketball. I think that's going to be the approach that I'm gonna take with my own kids. Try out whatever you like all sorts of things and eventually find what you want to do and find your passion."
Question: Good to see you, Dirk. How's it going? 21 years in Dallas. A lot of great memories in Dallas, but those last few years consisted of a lot of pain, a lot of recovery, a lot of shots. What about the game of basketball kept you going?
Answer: "Once the game started, it was always the thrill, the adrenaline that I loved. Of course, the last couple years were harder. I couldn't practice anymore here at the end. I had to spend hours on the training table just to still get ready to play. That took some of the fun away, but once the ball went up and I was still like a child, even though I was, what, 40 years old? At the end, the ball went up, the crowd was there.
"You get this rush and it was still fun to compete even though it. My last two years were getting harder, but I'm glad I held up for 21 years. It's been a wonderful journey with some amazing people and I wouldn't change it for anything."
Question: Getting into the Hall of Fame obviously is a great legacy, but Tony Parker was up here and he said he called you the G.O.A.T of European basketball. I'm just wondering how you feel about being the foundation piece of an entire movement?
Answer: "He told me that yesterday and I was very humbled by that. I always give credit to everybody else. I think there were guys that paved the way for me with [Detlef] Schrempf, [Tony] Kukoc, and [Drazen] Petrovich, and so many others. Probably even [Arvydas] Sabonis, who we didn't even seen the best Sabonis. He was a beast before he got hurt and even came over here.
"If I came in and helped inspire and motivate some guys along the way, then that makes me incredibly proud. It's always hard though to pick a G.O.A.T. and I think that's also part of the, the special debate. Everybody's always wanting to compare eras, and it is just impossible to do. The styles change, the game is so different now than it was even 20 years ago when I got in the league. It's hard to compare if that's his opinion, then, of course, I'm very glad to hear that and I'm proud to hear that."
Question: You talked about Tony Parker right now, but what does it feel for you to be going into the Hall of Fame with Tony and Pop, two guys that were a thorn in your Dallas Maverick side during your playing days and also despite those battles in the playoffs between San Antonio and Dallas. San Antonio fans have a lot of respect for you, and you teared up at the farewell video when you announced your retirement. Just your thoughts on that. What do you think?
Answer: "I'm not going to lie, I, I used to hate the Spurs.They were so good every year for so long and they were always kind of beating us up. They were the big brother and until we finally, they broke through, I think in '06, we beat them for the first time in the playoffs. Just a credit to them how good they were, how good [Tim Duncan] was for for almost two decades. And obviously all the the other guys, Manu [Ginobili] and Tony.
"I was never a huge Spurs fan there, I have to say, but nothing but respect for obviously, coach Pop and what he's done for me and the whole organization in my last game with the tribute video. That was super sweet. They didn't have to do that. There's a lot of respect there. Mutual respect. We had some great battles at the highest stage and always try to be classy and respect each other. I think that's what we did for a long period of time."
Question: I wanted to ask you about 1998 when you were drafted in the first round of the lottery. At the Nike Hoop Summit, you had probably the greatest performance still in the history of that game. How did that give you confidence to know that you can be able to mature and be the great player you became?
Answer: "That one game kind of changed my life overnight. That game was in San Antonio back then during the Final Four. There were so many college scouts and NBA Scouts. It was live ESPN two at the time. And just that one game kind of changed my life.
"I flew home after that. I didn't have a cell phone, but my parents' phone didn't stop ringing. We had to get an answering machine. because with time difference the US guys weren't that clear that, so they called in the middle of the night always. We had to get an answering machine. It was a fun time.
"Those couple of months leading up to the draft after and just seeing the hype and I was a little overwhelmed with the feedback after that game, I have to say. so it was a fun time for me though from for my life. And then I ended up getting drafted and going to Dallas."
Question: With the Hall of Fame being to immortalize your basketball impact, when people reflect on your game 20 or 40 years from now, what do you think they'll be thinking about long term?
Answer: "Probably just the ability to shoot at the seven-foot frame. That was really my strength, doing little other things, but people always remember me for my ability to stretch the floor and play in the mid-range a little bit — some of my fadeaway shots. So that's really what I brought to the game. I wasn't a great rebounder, defender, none of that. I was a scorer at heart, and I always wanted to score for my team and get us going, and that was the best part of my game."
Question: The other day on the radio, you said something I thought was pretty interesting. You said you felt like going into the Hall of Fame was the ultimate way to end this phase of your life. And I wondered if you could elaborate that on that a little bit, and it maybe how much reflecting you've done.
Answer: "I think honestly there's just nothing else coming for my basketball career. This is was 21 years and then the last few years, some beautiful awards and street naming and jersey retirements. But the Hall of Fame is the top of the mountain.
"To me this kind of caps this first phase of my life, and it's been a heck of a ride. And I wouldn't do anything different, like I mentioned earlier. It was so much fun playing and chasing my dreams and doing a sport that I love. So it was an amazing ride and to me, this is sort of the end to it and then we'll see.
"There's plenty of life left, honestly. We'll see what else I get into or where and when I'll stick around basketball. I think all that is remaining to be seen. But I see this as sort of the end to the first phase of my life and I couldn't be happier."
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).
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