Dirk Nowitzki is remembered as one of the greatest power forwards in basketball history. Beyond championships and loyalty to Dallas, he surprises fans with unique hobbies, unusual training methods, and personal quirks. These fascinating details about Dirk Nowitzki reveal much more than his legendary fadeaway.
Dirk Nowitzki
As a teenager, Dirk Nowitzki first played handball and tennis before focusing on basketball, which later shaped his unique footwork.
He trained under Holger Geschwindner, a former German player who created unorthodox drills, including playing instruments to improve rhythm.
Dirk once turned down big European clubs as a teenager to stay in his hometown Würzburg and finish school.
He is fluent in German and English but also learned some Spanish from former teammates during his long NBA career.
Dirk Nowitzki developed his famous one-legged fadeaway shot in practice as a way to score against taller, stronger defenders.
He is the first European-born player to score over 30,000 career points in the NBA.
Dirk played for only one NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks, across 21 seasons, setting a loyalty record in modern basketball.
He almost gave up basketball early after struggling with the culture shock in his first NBA season.
Music plays a big role in his life. He often listened to rock classics before games to find focus and energy.
He is passionate about tennis and even played matches against stars like Roger Federer in charity events.
Dirk became the first European and only second international player to win NBA Finals MVP in 2011.
He organized “Dirk Nowitzki’s Heroes Foundation” events, raising funds and awareness for children’s health and education programs.
Dirk once sang with German musician Max Herre at a concert, showing his love for music beyond basketball.
After retirement, the Dallas Mavericks honored him with a statue featuring his iconic one-legged fadeaway shot.
He is an active member of the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission, advocating for global sports development.
