A Street Named 'Nowitzki': Mavs Dirk and Carlisle's Best Quips at Ceremony

Dallas now has a Street Named 'Nowitzki': Mavs icon Dirk and coach Rick Carlisle offer the Best Quips at the Wednesday downtown Ceremony

DALLAS - The City of Dallas has officially renamed a portion of Olive Street downtown as "Nowitzki Way,'' and at the Wednesday ceremony inside and outside the AAC, honoree Dirk was typically self-effacing, saying there was a time when "the city probably wouldn’t have named a dumpster after me, let alone a street."

That magic moment. pic.twitter.com/1h8FCiyliF

— Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) October 30, 2019

The Mavs legend deserves this and much more for his service to the franchise, to North Texas and to the sport of basketball. He held court on stage for a time before going outside to jump aboard the cherry-picker as the sign went up. He joked on Twitter about the spelling accuracy ....

Here it is!!! Nowitzki Way...and it’s spelt right!!! @swish41 #MFFL pic.twitter.com/WOHphesIre

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) October 30, 2019

... and he talked about exchanging emotions with DFW.

. @swish41 had to collect himself when it came to thanking Dallas fans and the city. “After my first year they probably wouldn’t have named a dumpster after me, let alone a street.” pic.twitter.com/9DrGd9yD9C

— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) October 30, 2019

"There’s a lot of love I’ve received from this community, whether it’s from the Mavericks or fan base when things weren’t going well,'' he said. "After my first year, the city probably wouldn’t have named a dumpster after me, let alone a street."

The just-retired superstar, 41, played 21 seasons, all with Dallas, amassing incredible numbers, including the 31,560 points that have him ranked sixth on the league’s all-time scoring list. 

Dallas dignitaries were everywhere, of course, as was owner Mark Cuban, ditching his usual T-shirt-and-jeans uniform for a suit. But an even more notable suit-wearer was coach Rick Carlisle, who pulled out of the back of a closet the outfit he wore on June 12, 2011, the night the Mavs won the NBA title. It's never been laundered, so it remains soaked in champagne and memories.

“I always knew,'' Rick said, "there would be an appropriate day to wear it again.”