Dirk Nowitzki Biography

Dirk Nowitzki, born on June 19, 1978, is a German former professional basketball player who played his entire 21-year NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks as a power forward. At 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), Dirk Nowitzki is recognized as one of the top power forwards in basketball history and the leading European player in the sport's history. Nowitzki was selected ninth overall in the 1998 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, beginning his professional career in the league. He led the Dallas Mavericks to 15 NBA playoff appearances from 2001 to 2012 and again from 2014 to 2016, including a first NBA Finals appearance in 2006 and the team’s only championship in 2011. Nowitzki is the only player in NBA history to have played his entire career with a single franchise for 21 seasons. In international competition, he led the Germany national team to a bronze medal in the 2002 FIBA World Championship and a silver medal in EuroBasket 2005, earning MVP honors in both tournaments. Nowitzki was inspired to pursue basketball after watching the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team, known as the Dream Team, which sparked his interest in the sport.