On January 5, 2022, the Dallas Mavericks decided to do something meaningful for one of their top players in XXI century. They officialized the retirement of Dirk Nowitzki's jersey №41. The ceremony took place right before their match against the Golden State Warriors.
Dirk Nowitzki played his whole NBA career in the Mavericks. He spent 21 years in Dallas, retiring in 2019 at 40 years of age. The power forward led his team to their maiden NBA Championship in 2011. The Dallas Mavericks defeated in 6 games the strong Miami Heat team featuring LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. Nowitzki was named the Finals MVP, thus cementing his legacy for the Mavs.
The German became the only player in the NBA to record 31,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, 1,000 steals, 1,000 blocks, and 1,000 three-pointers. Nowitzki was 14-time NBA All-Star and remains the only player in the Organization to play 21 seasons for a single team.
Some of his records might be beaten at some point in the future, but his legacy will forever remain in Dallas. He was the essence for the Mavs' maiden title, thus writing down his name in the history books.
The Dallas Mavericks now have another European to lead them to new heights. Luka Doncic signed a 5-year contract in the summer of 2021 and will try to bring the glorious times back in Dallas. The team is currently 5th in the West with 20 wins and 18 losses. They have actually managed to upset the Golden State Warriors after Dirk's ceremony, 99-82.