With the No. 1 overall seed locked up throughout the playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks don’t have much to play for as the regular season winds down. But for Mavs’ superstar Dirk Nowitzki, now is the time to put the finishing touches on his ‘06-07 MVP campaign. Averaging 24.7 points and 9.1 boards a night for the team with the League’s best record, Dirk has to be the current favorite for the award.
In the April 2007 issue of Dime (on newsstands now), I talked to Dirk about becoming The Man in Dallas, answering his most high-profile critic, and what sets him apart from LeBron James. You can read an excerpt from that story here…
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Dallas’ success begins and ends with their superstar, Dirk Nowitzki. The lone piece remaining from the Steve Nash-Michael Finley-Dirk triumvirate that once defined the Mavs, Dirk is still working towards fully coming into his own as a player and maybe most importantly for his team, as a leader. It has not been an easy road; the loss of his running mates put him in a spot where he was forced to shoulder the load, to take on everything that comes with being an NBA contender’s unquestioned superstar — a position that Dirk will tell you he wasn’t quite ready to accept. He has since learned to grow into the role. This season is looking like a career one for Dirk; while his 25 points per game (at press time) is almost a full two points off his personal best, he’s still putting up those points while averaging a career high in assists and playing less minutes than he has since he first came into the League.
Dirk is still admittedly learning on the job — I caught up with Nowitzki the same day the Heat’s Dwyane Wade publicly called him out in a Miami newspaper for his leadership skills in last year’s NBA Finals. As you’ll see, Dirk realizes he cannot quiet his critics until he leads his team to a championship …
Dime: We’re doing this interview the same day that newspapers are carrying some pretty tough words about you from Dwyane Wade. He was quoted in the Miami Herald as saying, “Dirk says they have us the championship last year, but he’s the reason they lost the championship, because he wasn’t the leader that’s he’s supposed to be in the closing moments. That’s because of great defense by us, but also he wasn’t assertive enough as a leader’s supposed to be.” That’s something coming from a guy who doesn’t usually call out other players in the press. What do you make of it?
Dirk: I saw it. Obviously, there’s not much that I can say because he won that battle. The Miami Heat are the champs. I will never get into some kind of loud shouting match with Dwyane Wade in the newspapers about it, because I’m not that kind of guy. But until we do something about it, there’s nothing I can really say. He’s up 1-0. Hopefully we’ll have a chance to play for the title against Miami this summer. There’s really nothing I can say until we do something about it.
Dime: Dwyane touches on something though that has been a developing situation with you; your maturation as the true leader of the Mavs. When Steve Nash and Michael Finley left, it became your team, whether you liked it or not. Can you talk about that process?
Dirk: It took me a while. My personality is more laid-back. For me to be a leader is really out of character. It’s not me to be the guy giving big speeches or anything like that. Big, fiery speeches just aren’t my thing. So in the beginning, I wasn’t comfortable with that role. And in many ways I’m still not comfortable with it. But you know what? In a way it’s become fun, communicating with guys on the court, communicating with them after a game, trying to figure out what we can do better. I had to learn to lead by example. I want my guys to see me as fired up for a home game against Miami as I would be for a game at the Clippers in the middle of the season.
That part wasn’t as hard for me and I think that just comes from being a competitor. In our team sport, individual numbers don’t mean anything. I don’t start a season going, “I want to be an All-Star. I want to put up 25 and 10 a night.” It doesn’t work like that. I want to be a champion.
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Dime: Forever, we’ve been hearing about “The Next Michael Jordan” or “The Next Shaq” in regards to up-and-coming non-American players. Now, whenever we’re discussing a highly regarded non-American player, people are always looking to label someone “The Next Dirk.” The most recent player to carry that was the No. 1 pick in this past year’s draft, Andrea Bargnani. How do you feel about everyone looking for “The Next You?”
Dirk: I did hear that before the draft. That was a great honor for me. I think back to when I first got here, I was so lost, just trying to find my way. To see how far I’ve come and then to hear things like that, it makes me feel like I’ve been accepted over here.
Dime: Staying with your acceptance in the United States, right now, the Nike Air Force 1 “Second Coming” TV spot is everywhere. It features some of the best Nike players in the world, but you’re noticeably absent. We heard you begged out because you were out of the country. True?
Dirk: Absolutely. I get asked that all the time now: “Why aren’t you in that commercial?” It would’ve been sweet, don’t get me wrong, but it just wasn’t worth it to me to fly 12 hours from Germany for two days on a commercial set. That’s time I wanted to spend with my family or resting. If I was in Vegas or L.A. or even Dallas, I definitely would’ve been there.
Dime: Our last cover story was about LeBron James’ desire to make himself a true global marketing icon. It’s clearly something that’s very important to him, but it’s obviously not something as important to you, with Exhibit A being the Nike commericial.
Dirk: I’m the complete opposite of LeBron in that sense. I love my job but, I don’t know, I don’t really care about marketing and ads. All that stuff, doing interviews and photo shoots and commercials, that comes as part of the job and that’s fine. But I’m not going to seek it out. I’ve never really cared about magazine covers or if I’m “marketing myself the right way” or whatever.
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Dime: Despite your status as an international star, there doesn’t seem to be a lot out there about your personality and home life. Is that by design?
Dirk: You know what? I get that question a lot. I try to keep my personal life out of the picture. People always ask and there really isn’t a whole lot to tell. I like to read, I love music, I started learning to play the piano a few years ago, I’m learning guitar. I like to hang out with my friends and family and that’s really about it.
Dime: At the same time though, when you’re not guarded, you seem like a totally normal dude. I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures on the Internet of you have Steve out in a bar after you guys obviously had a few drinks. A lot of people in your position would think about trying to get those photos removed …
Dirk: Ha, that’s funny. I did see them and I didn’t think they were a big deal at all. I see it this way: I’m just going to be myself. I’m still young. I don’t want to stay in the house 24 hours a day; I’m too young for that. I’m a human being like everyone else. I’ll go home in the summertime and people will be like, “Dirk is the same person he was when he left Germany 10 years ago.” It it’s offseason and I’m relaxing and having fun, I don’t think there’s any problem with having a few beers and having fun. Totally not a big deal to me.
*You can read the rest of Dirk’s story in Dime #32, on newsstands now and also available at Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Borders, Barnes & Noble and 7-11 stores nationwide.*
April 11th, 2007 at 3:38 am
Dank says:
Nowitzki BLOWS! what sets him apart from lebron and the rest of the league is his poor athletism, his horrible defense, his inconsistency in late game heroics, and, like D-wade said, his lack of leadership. So he chewed out Dampier and Terry? i bet you that guys in the D-league would chew them up just as well, if not better than nowitzki, for making crappy decisions. The shot terry made on Nash back in that double OT game is an example of a horrible decision. Yea, he got lucky that A) an inferior player was guarding him (Nash being inferior) and B) he kinda remembered where the rim was. but a true leader, a kobe, or a lebron, wouldve wanted a wide open shot, not a contested one. The MAVS suck and nowitzki isn’t anythin special. watch them choke come playoff time, just like the Suns will. the only place where dirk might win a championship will be his home country, cus over here, he cant compete with the best.
April 11th, 2007 at 11:44 am
wow says:
i thought this was a good article and look forward to reading the rest of it. Dank i really hope your kidding or maybe you are just completely incapable of making any type of basketball analysis. lets look at some things you said.
“what sets him apart from lebron and the rest of the league is his poor athletism”- actually what sets dirk apart from the league is his INCREDIBLE athleticism for a 7-footer who can run the floor, beat guys off the dribble/jab step, as well as come off screens to hit shots
“a kobe, or a lebron, wouldve wanted a wide open shot, not a contested one”– lol this one is hilarious, the shot kobe gets at the end of a game is usually some kind of fade-away in the corner. and lebron well if he doesnt get to the rim you can count on him as well to throw up a fade-away and usually miss.
“The MAVS suck and nowitzki isn’t anythin special”- this one reeks of intelligence. the mavs suck? why is that because they still have a chance at finishing with one of the 10 BEST RECORDS OF ALL TIME? or because they the favorite to win the title? and you’re right dirk isnt anything special, just the best player on the best team in the best league in the world
April 12th, 2007 at 12:15 am
don says:
agreed. you were way off with that one, dank.
April 12th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
dank says:
the best player on the best team in the world? you guys have got to be kidding me. I wasn’t way off, your only relevant point was … oh wait you didnt have one. Have you seen nowitzki run? honestly, he looks like he has weights on his shoes, he runs flat footed and can BARELY jump. dude, a little tip on arguments, if you’re going to make a statement, make sure it has a point. Provide stats, provide facts. you didn’t counter the Kobe or LeBron example, you just said what they do in order to get buckets: Fade away for Kobe, drive to the rack for Lebron. You didn’t counter the “horrible defense” statement. look at the other big men in the league ahead of him in the rebounding department and blocked shots. 21 players ahead of him in rebounding. EVEN SAMUEL DALEMBERT. and in blocked shots, nowitzki isn’t even in the top 50. where is that important? oh yea now i remember: come playoff time, when you have to face big men like Yao, Tim Duncan, Stoudamire and Marion. and athletism? that’s like saying Steve Nash can dunk. if nowitzki wins the MVP, somehow, then i hope he does the right thing by either A) giving it to his coach or B) give it to a more DESERVING player. if he takes the MVP, then it’ll be a sad day in caucasian history. as far as the Mavs winning it all this year, your record doesnt mean jack. want an example? look at last year’s final. CHOKE!
April 12th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Kelly says:
OK WOAH , dank are you ok ? did you just hit your head or sumthin? If you ask me after reading the comments you posted , your a total hater . It looks like your a typical live-in-miami hater against the mavs . Dirk is a great player as much as u dont want to admit it . He makes 25 pts per game and gets lots of rebounds . You sat there and typed up all the stuff dirk dosent have ( which isent much ) and didnt bother to mention his nightly 25 pts and like 6 rebounds. By the way , hello! someone had to lose last year in the finals thats just how it was and sadly it was the mavs . But look at them this year , look at thier record ( o and yeah smart one your record DOES mean something , there is a diffrence between being 65-13 and 19-60 for the season so far ) So you obiously dont know jack about basketball. I just cant wait for the mavs to win it all this year so you can sit there and cry . o and ps- dirk does deserve the mvp this year , hater.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:20 am
Bikram D Sharma says:
Dank,You must be a side kick of dwyane wade in Maiami,who does not know what he is saying.Dude the statistics do not lie.Come on dude,you can look up the stastics and be smart enough to figure out from stastics what is dirk worth .He has done something which MJ,Larry bird had done in past.And ‘Mavs Suck’ part,I didn’t get it .I do not think you watch the games dude.Watch a Mavs game and tell me when they suck???Mavs are the best and Dirk is the next MVP.Case closed.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:22 am
Dank says:
I live in LA bra. Up until D-wade destroyed the Mavs last year, I had no respect for him. I jumped on the bandwagon after I realized I was an idiot for ignoring the kind of player D-wade is. He’s a 6 ft 4 version of AI who gets things done. and what ticks me off is, everyone is already writing in the Mavs like its done, “oh yea lets wrap this one up and see if the draft brings some competition”. Suck it. DID YOU EVEN LOOK AT THE STATS I PROVIDED FOR YOU? No. You wanna know how i know? because your ignorant ass said nowitzki gets 25 and 6 when he actually averages 9 rebounds a game. Now, having said that, you countered with the fact that he is more athletic. so, you know what, there’s not even a point in arguing, because obviously your a Mark Cuban brown nosing airhead (not to be harsher and hurt your feelings bra). You’re one of those typical IDIOT fans who thinks that their team shoudl get every play and you make the hand signals for when the refs saw nothing on that play. 80% of those idiot fans are sadly located in the city of Dallas. ignorant prick. but you know, i’m not gonna tell you what to do with your life. so suit yourself queer.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Kim says:
First off, if you ever refer to me as a “bra”, I’ll write you off as quite possibly one of the most idiotic people in history. A bra is a piece of material that keeps a woman’s tits in place. Don’t even think about knocking me with that “Don’t you know slang, bra?” shit, because I know it, but I also know that you sound like an idiot. Seriously. “Mark Cuban brown-nosing airhead”? Where in this argument does ANYONE say ANYTHING about Mark Cuban? This is about Dirk, and him being the best player on the best team in the league. You want to start with Kobe and Wade. They all fall into the same catergory. Can you say selfish? The “Kobe Bryant Show”? Piece of shit. It’d be different if his team was actually good. And how can you deny that Dirk is one of the best? 24.7 points, 9.10 rebounds. Yeah, he really sucks. Send him back to Germany.
April 13th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Kelly says:
woah that dank dude needs serious help . Im with you here kim . O well sorry that i said he makes 6 rebounds a game when he makes 9 (thats even better stupid ) and i dont even know how you brought up mark cuban into all this. Your a hater , end of story. I still dont get why your so against dirk and the mavs. Is it cuz they got the best record in the nba ? is it cuz they work as a team and dont need one person to sit there and hog the ball the whole time like kobe and dwyane wade.is it cuz your team in LA AINT DOIN AS GOOD THIS YEAR AS THE MAVS?Or is it cuz thyre gonna win it all this year?. O and notice how your the only one that left a stupid mean comment bout the mavs ? and everyone else is like dude what the crap are you talking bout?and i know more about the mavs and nba than you do , airhead.
April 13th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
dank says:
Take away the Mavs roster and coach and leave nowitzki. Surround him with the lakers roster minus Kobe. Result? Mavs with a season of 18-64. its true. u fuckers are retarded. When i mentioned Cuban, i was trying to make u realize how much of a deuschebag, ignorant asswipe fan you are by thinking nowitzki is the best simply because he does something special (much like Cuban does). you have failed to point out what it is that is so special. nowitzki is a mediocre player, and while you look up that word in the dictionary, ill tell you that theres 20 guys ill put in front of him. and thats only at power forward, because theres 50 more guys better than him that dont play forward. If you know slang then why even come back with “A bra is a piece of material that keeps a woman’s tits in place.” And im an idiot? the only thing im an idiot for is wasting my time giving presentations to a room full of monkeys. Then again, a monkey would know the difference between greatness (Kobe) and shit (nowitzki). how dare you compare nowitzki to MJ???? that’s stupid right there, that’s just idiotic. Kobe isn’t MJ, he’ll never be better than MJ at a ton of things, but he already has made his own name. nowitzki, on the other hand, is a choking pussy. I’m done even looking at this fuckin post because it’s been established that the future competitors of the special olympics have been responding to my comments. oh yea very smart fanbase. alright Kimberly have fun being a tramp. peace.
April 13th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Kim says:
Why would you even call me a tramp? That’s completely uncalled for and incredibly rude. You have no right to say that. Fuck you. And I could have told you the Lakers suck. But the Mavs on the other hand, do not. Which you quite obviously said before. Nowitzki isn’t God, he can’t perform miracles, like making the Lakers win. But the Mavs roster is filled with good players, including Dirk, which is why they win. And the “bra” comment was just to make sure you know you sound like an idiot.
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Joe says:
Eh… I’m a lil more mello than dank… but SOMEONE’s gotta back him up. i’m here wid ya bro. with all honesty, i hate dirk, and i hate the mavericks. the fact that this article never mentioned that dirk said they gave the championship to miami meaning “Dallas let them win on purpose” is pretty biased. Dwyane Wade is a hardcore Christian and a good guy. Mark Cuban also said that Wade was useless and all he was good at was getting to the freethrow line. Result: Wade did not say anything in retaliation and laughed it off. Dwyane Wade is not the most athletic player in the world, not the most talented, not the best, but he is the most complete player. other than 3 pointers, there isn’t a flaw to his game (maybe xcept turnovers). What proves this is the ring on his finger after 3 years of working through doubt and pressure from the rest of the world of basketball. After a decade, Dirk’s fingers are bare. Last year, they won 2 in a row and the championship was their’s for the taking. and then they lose 4 in a row. I don’t wanna be as rude as Dank, but i think some of the credit for this huge choke should go to Dirk. Since everybody is saying he’s the leader of the team, and the team lost, doesn’t that mean some of the blame should go to the leader? if Miami lost 4-0, then Dwyane Wade would be the one to blame. but they didn’t, they held their ground, and came back from something only 11 teams have ever accomplished in the history of the NBA. I respect Dirk, he’s good, but I don’t like him. and I don’t think he has what it takes to lead his team to a title. And I don’t live in Miami either, i live in Ohio. Wade’s unselfish plays and his Christian, humble views drew me into the Miami Heat circle ever since 2005. He’s turned even the formerly prideful Shaquille O’neal into a humble contributer, not a power hungry team dictator. He’s one of my greatest role models, and a man of God. Please don’t insult him like he’s trash. Go Heat, Gl to everyone else.
May 10th, 2007 at 2:42 am
arrha says:
What has humility and being Christian got to do with basketball? And you’re even asking the rest of the commenters not to insult Wade like his trash. Well, could you please pull up and read dank’s statements and see who’s calling who, trash. He had directly pointed out that Dirk Nowitzki “blows”, isn’t that almost the same as calling someone trash? “Blows” after all pertain to having little to no skill or talent whatsoever.
And by the way, I believe that Dirk Nowitzki was the one who showed true humility in all of these. Instead of engaging in an insult-match with Wade, he chose to stay quiet, unlike some players who would have made Wade’s words a big deal had he/they been the target of it.
“Dwyane Wade is not the most athletic player in the world, not the most talented, not the best, but he is the most complete player. other than 3 pointers, there isn’t a flaw to his game (maybe xcept turnovers).” You have totally contradicted yourself with this statement. How can he be complete if he does not do 3-pointers? How can there be no flaw to his game if they’re always turning over?
And as opposed to what you think, I do believe that Dirk Nowitzki has what it takes to lead Mavs to the finals. I’m just sorry I wasn’t able to see it this year. But I’m still happy I got to see it all through the regular season.
Next year, hopefully, will be the Mavericks’ year! Not only on the regular season but the playoffs and the finals as well!
May 24th, 2007 at 4:59 am
No-wit-ski sucks says:
You are all no life losers. Take your meds and go to bed. (and Kim, your A cup boobs don’t need a bra)
June 8th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Kim says:
I realize this reply is a little late but…
Since when did cup size come into this, and when were you involved with any of that conversation at all? My cup size is a D. Not like you would know that and have any right to say that or anything. Good comeback, asshole.
June 10th, 2007 at 4:43 am
Jonathan Braer says:
what is it about losing to the warriors in the first round that makes people think “Our team is right on track”
theodoros plakadopoulos tplay