Dirk Nowitzki: A wunderkind turns 40

Dirk Nowitzki wears No. 41 for the Dallas Mavericks. Germany's biggest basketball star and probably its biggest international sports star has just turned 40. He happens to be the fourth-oldest player in the NBA.

Dirk Nowitzki, whose mother played basketball for Germany and whose father was a second-division handball player, was born in Würzburg on June 19, 1978. He didn't pick up a basketball until he was 13, but it was clear from the start that he had talent. It was while he was playing for Würzburg of Germany's second division, that the then 19-year-old first drew the attention of several NBA scouts.

The Milwaukee Bucks made Dirk Nowitzki the ninth overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft. Milwaukee then immediately traded Nowitzki to the Dallas Mavericks, meaning he never actually wore a Bucks jersey. Nowitzki got off to a slow start with the Mavs in his first season, which was shortened by a lockout. However, it wouldn't be long before Milwaukee's management would regret their mistake.

Nowitzki's trademark is his fadeaway jump shot. It may not be as spectacular as a dunk, which he's also more than capable of producing, it is just as effective. the NBA's best defenders often comment about how hard it was to defend Dirk when he was in rhythm. It seems, he can do it all.

Nowitzki had the honor of being Germany's flagbearer at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. However, Germany's basketball team failed to make it to the knockout phase. Nowitzki did win the bronze medal with Germany at the 2002 World Basketball Championship as well as silver at the 2005 edition of the tournament.

Holger Geschwindner was an elite basketball player who represented Germany at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich. However, he is far better known as the man who discovered Nowitzki. In 1995 he convinced Nowitzki to dedicate himself exclusively to basketball. Even now, Nowitzki sometimes has Geschwindner fly over to the US, where he is still the NBA star's personal trainer and mentor.

Dirk Nowitzki and his Dallas Mavericks won the 2011 NBA championship. The German helped make the title possible through more than just his play on the court – he agreed to accept a contract that paid him below market value, in order to allow the team to bring in other big-name stars. Dallas won the NBA final series 4 games to 2 over Lebron James and the Miami Heat

Nowitzki thus became the first-ever German to win an NBA title – putting him in the same conversation as former German greats Max Schmeling, Franz Beckenbauer or Michael Schumacher. He was also named the Most Valuable Player of those NBA playoffs, four seasons after he had become the first European to be named the NBA's MVP. At home, he was named German Sports Personality of the Year 2011.

Despite all of this success, Dirk Nowitzki has always kept his feet planted firmly on the ground. He makes himself available for interviews whenever he can, he takes time to sign autographs for the fans a much as he can. However, the father of three children tends to keep his family life to himself.

Nowitzki is the curator of a foundation committed to the promotion of youth welfare, as well as the education and training of socially disadvantaged people. Involved in a number of other projects, the German has earned himself a reputation as player whose influence reaches beyond the basketball court. Here he is talking about “Basketball without borders” at a press conference in South Africa.

Injuries have been a recurring problem in the later stages of the Nowitzki’s career. He will continue to miss minor games as a precautionary measure, but is nevertheless going into his 21st season in the NBA. With 31,187 career points (as of 19.06.2018), he is the sixth-highest all-time scorer in the NBA and he’s still got more than a few baskets left in him.

There are a couple of players vying to be Dirk Nowitzki’s successor as Germany’s No1. NBA star. Top of the pile is Dennis Schröder of the Atlanta Hawks. The Braunschweig native is well regarded, but whether he can fill the big shoes left behind by "Dirkules" remains to be seen. After all a talent like Nowitzki’s doesn’t come around very often…