Dirk Enters HOF Same Way He Got There: Humble, Humor & Class
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Dirk Nowitzki, the best player in Dallas Mavericks history, officially crossed over into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Although the Springfield crowd applauded for everyone who came up on stage to make their speeches, you could just tell that there was a little extra something once Nowitzki made his way up to the stage.
In typical Dirk fashion, he entered the Hall of Fame the same way he was able to make it there: by being humble, humorous and showing a tremendous amount of class. Nowitzki always had a way of taking everyone's high expectations and exceeding them, and that was the case with his speech on Saturday, which included thanking many familiar people who helped him throughout his career.
Nowitzki's speech centered around these qualities: creativity, leadership, competitiveness, respect, loyalty, taking risks, attention to detail, intensity, professionalism, innovation and more.
“Starting with this quality, and that’s creativity. The one guy that comes to mind is my guy, Don Nelson," Nowitzki said. "Nellie. Unfortunately he’s not here tonight, but he always saw the game different and when I came in the league, there were not a lot of coaches that wanted a 7-footer to shoot 3s so my skill set kind of fit perfect into his system. I can’t thank him enough.
"He was also very creative off the floor and the stuff that he came up with, his speeches — it’s almost like [Gregg Popovich], they’re not kid-friendly so I’m not gonna say. It always came down to me having zero talent on defense and he always let me know that. He was just an incredible basketball mind."
Nowitzki was presented into the Hall of Fame by former teammates and friends for life Steve Nash and Jason Kidd. Nash got the call first in his big speech.
“Creativity is worth nothing without leadership and the guy that comes to my mind is my friend, Steve," Nowitzki said. "I think we came a long way from those two brutal haircuts we saw there. The frosted tips you had. But, who would have thought when we first started playing together that we would both be on this stage together? It means the world to me and you were a great role model to me. Best teammate I ever had. You were always positive, you always encouraged me. We worked our butts off at night, went back to the gym and you became a friend for life. Thank you, my friend.”
Although Nowitzki only got to play with Kidd on the back end of his career, the two Hall of Famers got their money's worth by capturing a championship against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in 2011.
“Next up for me, was, I had to learn my competitiveness and who better but my guy J-Kidd? I’ll always remember when you came to us, you were already a little older, but you were a warrior," Nowitzki said. "I remember you picking up guys at age 37, 38 picking up guys full court. 94 feet, hustling for us. Making plays on both ends and you were just a wonderful, wonderful all-around player and we won the championship together. We have a bond for life. Thank you so much."
Nowitzki got some good laughs out of the crowd with what he added next: “I would have really loved to play together with [Nash and Kidd] in their primes, but unfortunately I had to deal with what they gave me.”
Speaking of Nowitzki defeating Wade in that 2011 Finals series, avenging the heartbreaking Finals loss from 2006, The Big German shifted focus to his peers. The guys who used to be fierce rivals have now become 2023 Hall of Fame classmates.
"There’s one quality that really holds a team together, and that’s respect. That embodies the entire class for me, of ‘23. I’m so excited to be a part of this class," Nowitzki said. "Pau [Gasol], Tony [Parker], [Dwyane] Wade. I didn't always like you guys. We competed at the highest level, but there was always an appreciation of you guys’ greatness. So, thank you guys.
"There’s one guy in this class who I have the utmost respect for and that’s Coach Pop. I will never forget you. You wrote me a handwritten note when we won the championship. What you and your organization did at my last game, I’ll forever be grateful. Thank you, my friend. To the whole class it’s an honor to go in with you, I’m truly humbled.”
And you knew it wouldn't be long before Nowitzki talked about the quality he's likely known for the most: loyalty. Nowitzki is the only player in NBA history to play 21 seasons with only one team. He had several chances to go elsewhere when times were tough, but he stayed true to Dallas, and he was ultimately rewarded with a championship and an organizational relationship that just means more than others do.
“Respect is a great thing if you establish it over a long period of time and you get the quality that’s more important to me than any other, and that is loyalty. The guy that embodies that for me is my good friend, Mark Cuban," Nowitzki said.
"You have a huge heart and you taught me a lot of lessons in loyalty. I will always remember when you bought the team and you came to your first practice, you said, ‘Let’s play some one-on-one. I could play a little bit.’ Of course, I drove left like I always do and I dunked it right on your head (loud crowd laughter). We had a great friendship and relationship ever since. Thanks for everything you’ve done for me and for my family. I appreciate it.”
Nowitzki also took some time to thank former Mavs GM Donnie Nelson, and former Mavs head coaches Rick Carlisle and Avery Johnson, for the roles they played in legendary career.
“Career always comes with change and that’s always sometimes difficult. To deal with this, it requires the following qualities. Donnie, you found me in Wurtzberg and you always believed in me when nobody else did. That quality to me is the ability of taking risks. Thanks, Donnie," Nowitzki said.
"Second, you have to master this perfectly. Coach Carlisle, thank you. You taught me how detail-oriented you have to be to win. Really almost obsessive with the attention to detail. I gotta say, I had to retire. I could not have done another shootaround of yours, I gotta say. You made us champions and we’ll forever be grateful. Thank you. The lesson there was, ‘Nothing really works without great preparation.’”
Nowitzki continued: “Coach Avery, you pushed me to become more than a jump shooter. You developed me into more of a complete player and the lesson here is, you made a difference with your intensity and I’ll always be grateful. Thank you so much.”
When it comes to becoming a true professional, Nowitzki credits former Mavs teammate and current Mavs Vice President of Basketball Operations Michael Finely for his mentorship.
“The next guy I learned professionalism from is my guy Michael Finley," Nowitzki said. "You were a true pro, on and off the floor. You let me and Steve grow alongside you and we will always be grateful. I’m still sad you went to the Spurs in ‘06, but we learned so much from you and you became my big brother. You’re always there for me when I need you, so thank you.”
Continuing to display humbleness, Nowitzki then acknowledged the 'orchestra' that helped him progress during his career, which included all his former teammates, staff members, and of course, the diehard, loyal MFFLs.
“No one can whistle a symphony, it takes a whole orchestra to play it. That orchestra, I was very lucky to have one in Dallas and that quality was team spirit," Nowitzki said.
"It starts with the whole Mavs staff, with the medical staff — I mean, everybody does so much work behind the scenes and really helps us to perform every night. All my ex-teammates, I must have had 200 of them along my 21 years. Some of them are here tonight, some of the guys from the 2011 championship are here. Of course, I couldn’t have done it without you. You guys carried me every night. On defense, especially. We have a bond for life, so I really appreciate you guys coming.
“Of course, all the Mavs fans. I hear you. Everyone hears you. You guys inspired and motivated me to always work hard. I will always be proud to represent you guys and of course, the Dallas Mavericks. Thank you.”
The legend of Holger Geschwinder will forever be synonymous with Nowitzki, as his unorthodox training methods helped propel the Mavs legend to heights he'd never seen. Every summer, Geschwinder would make Nowitzki add something new to his "toolbox," as they used to call it, and the end results now speak for themselves.
“All these qualities, I couldn’t have ever learned without the next one, [which] is innovation. And the one crazy that comes to mind is, my coach, Holger," Nowitzki said. "You always thought outside the box. I had to walk through the gym in handstands. I had to play the saxophone, I had to play the saxophone while doing the handstand. I mean, what else can I say? You taught me everything from the jump shot to how to play. Early on, motor skills were always more important than strength training and I think that helped me in my longevity. You became my mentor for my entire career and I will always be grateful for what you did for me. Thanks, Holger.”
Nowitzki then started to wrap things up by thanking his sister Silke, his parents Helga and Jörg-Werner, and his wife Jessica for their roles in keeping him together throughout his life and career. The last quality he spoke about, though, was curiosity, and he gave a powerful message to his children, Malaika, Max and Morris.
“As you see, so many qualities and values are extremely helpful but there’s one more that adds a little spice and that’s curiosity. I’ve got the best three teachers here tonight, those are our kids. Malaika, Max and Morris, please keep this forever. Stay curious and hungry. Find your passion and work hard," Nowitzki said.
"I shared with you some of the stories tonight that I learned from my role models and I wish the same for you. Find your role models who inspire you along the way. It’s always important in life to always have the drive to improve. To never be satisfied. Always see yourself as someone who wants to learn and not see yourself as someone who knows everything already. I’ve had so many great lessons taught to me by incredible teachers, and you will find them, too. Remember, when you’re green, you grow. When you’re ripe, you rot. ... Thank you so much.”
And with that, Dirk Nowitzki, who is not only the greatest Maverick of all time, but also the greatest Dallas athlete of all time in general in our opinion, achieved the game of basketball's greatest honor. He came, he saw, and he conquered in every phase of his career, and Saturday night was no different.
DallasBasketball.com is honored to have been in attendance at Symphony Hall for Nowitzki's crowing achievement, and we wish him nothing but the best in whatever his future holds. Nowitzki's basketball career has officially come to a close, but he will forever be with the Mavericks in some capacity for the rest of his life. And for that, we're all thankful, because there can never be enough Dirk Nowitzki.
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