Dirk Nowitzki
Tearful induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame
Dirk Nowitzki was visibly touched during his speech.
© Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Dirk Nowitzki couldn’t hide tears of emotion at the Hall of Fame recording. In the presence of his family, he became emotional.
Never before has a German basketball player received this honor: Dirk Nowitzki (45) is now an official member of the venerable “Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame”. At the ceremonial admission of the native of Würzburg on Saturday evening in the Hall of Fame in Springfield in the US state of Massachusetts, his acceptance speech became very emotional. Wearing a blue suit and matching blue tie, the former Dallas Mavericks basketball pro cried as he thanked his parentswhich he had to wipe from his eyes.
Addressing his parents directly, he suddenly said in German: “What you did for me, I will never forget for the rest of my life. And if I only become a half as good a father as you parents were for me, then I’m happy.” Admission to the Hall of Fame means “everything” to him, Nowitzki also explained in his words, in which he of course thanked not only his family but also all his fellow athletes.
His entire family was there
His parents Jörg-Werner (80) and Helga were there as well as his wife Jessica Olsson (44) and their three children Malaika (10), Max (8) and Morris (6). His mentor and sponsor for many years, former national player Holger Geschwindner (77), also traveled to Springfield to witness the honors of his former protégé up close.
Dirk Nowitzki is considered one of the best basketball players of all time. From 1998 to 2019 he played for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA, the best basketball league in the world. In the 2006/2007 season, he was the first European ever to be awarded the title of most valuable player in the main round. In 2011, he won the league title with Dallas and was recognized as a playoff MVP. With 31,560 points in the NBA, Nowitzki is the top non-American, second only to icons Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James.