Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • “It’s Going to be Fun Playing With Him” – Houston Rockets’ Amen Thompson is Relieved to be Teammates With Kevin Durant
    • “You Wish You Could Play With Them Forever” – Boston Celtics Star Laments the Team’s Cost-Cutting Measures This Offseason
    • “We Woulda Won a Championship Bro” – Memphis Grizzlies Legend Drops Painful Rudy Gay Admission
    • “I Just Wish He’d Take Basketball More Seriously” – New Orleans Pelicans’ Jordan Poole Draws Optimistic Prediction from Analyst
    • “Most Interesting Trade Candidate in the NBA” – Utah Jazz Star Labeled as One of the NBA’s Top Trade Targets in 2025-26
    • “I Don’t Feel Like We Did a Good Job” – Miami Heat Legend Subtly Blames Erik Spoelstra for the Team Losing the 2011 Championship
    • “It’s Over Bro” – Former Philadelphia 76ers Gets Reality Check From Former NBA Star
    • “I Was Just Watching Him” – Dallas Mavericks Icon Dirk Nowitzki Credits Former Showtime Lakers Guard For Helping His NBA Career
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Writers
    • Want to Write for Hardwood Heroics?
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Hardwood Heroics
    SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES
    • NBA
      • Eastern
        • Atlanta Hawks
        • Boston Celtics
        • Brooklyn Nets
        • Charlotte Hornets
        • Chicago Bulls
        • Cleveland Cavaliers
        • Detroit Pistons
        • Indiana Pacers
        • Miami Heat
        • Milwaukee Bucks
        • New York Knicks
        • Orlando Magic
        • Philadelphia 76ers
        • Toronto Raptors
        • Washington Wizards
      • Western
        • Dallas Mavericks
        • Denver Nuggets
        • Golden State Warriors
        • Houston Rockets
        • Los Angeles Clippers
        • Los Angeles Lakers
        • Memphis Grizzlies
        • Minnesota Timberwolves
        • New Orleans Pelicans
        • Oklahoma City Thunder
        • Phoenix Suns
        • Portland Trailblazers
        • Sacramento Kings
        • San Antonio Spurs
        • Utah Jazz
    • 2025 March Madness
    • COLLEGE BASKETBALL
      • ACC
        • Boston College Eagles
        • California Golden Bears
        • Clemson Tigers
        • Duke Blue Devils
        • Florida State Seminoles
        • Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
        • Louisville Cardinals
        • Miami Hurricanes
        • NC State Wolfpack
        • North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball
        • Notre Dame Fighting Irish
        • Pittsburgh Panthers
        • SMU Mustangs
        • Stanford Cardinal
        • Syracuse Orange
        • Virginia Cavaliers
        • Virginia Tech Hokies
        • Wake Forest Demon Deacons
      • Big 12
        • Arizona State Sun Devils
        • Arizona Wildcats Basketball
        • Baylor Bears
        • Brigham Young Cougars
        • Cincinnati Bearcats
        • Colorado Buffaloes
        • Houston Cougars Basketball
        • Iowa State Cyclones Basketball
        • Kansas Jayhawks
        • Kansas State Wildcats
        • Oklahoma State Cowboys
        • TCU Horned Frogs
        • Texas Tech Red Raiders
        • UCF Knights
        • Utah Utes
        • West Virginia Mountaineers
      • Big East
        • Butler Bulldogs
        • Connecticut Huskies Basketball
        • Creighton Bluejays
        • DePaul Blue Demons
        • Georgetown Hoyas
        • Marquette Golden Eagles Basketball
        • Providence Friars
        • Seton Hall Pirates
        • St. John’s Red Storm
        • Villanova Wildcats
        • Xavier Musketeers
      • Big Ten
        • Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball
        • Indiana Hoosiers
        • Iowa Hawkeyes Basketball
        • Maryland Terrapins
        • Michigan State Spartans
        • Michigan Wolverines
        • Minnesota Golden Gophers
        • Nebraska Cornhuskers
        • Northwestern Wildcats
        • Ohio State Buckeyes
        • Oregon Ducks
        • Penn State Nittany Lions
        • Purdue Boilermakers Basketball
        • Rutgers Scarlet Knights
        • Southern California Trojans
        • UCLA Bruins
        • Washington Huskies
        • Wisconsin Badgers
      • SEC
        • Alabama Crimson Tide
        • Arkansas Razorbacks
        • Auburn Tigers Basketball
        • Florida Gators
        • Georgia Bulldogs
        • Kentucky Wildcats
        • LSU Tigers
        • Mississippi State Bulldogs
        • Missouri Tigers
        • Oklahoma Sooners
        • Ole Miss Rebels
        • South Carolina Gamecocks
        • Tennessee Volunteers Basketball
        • Texas A&M Aggies
        • Texas Longhorns
        • Vanderbilt Commodores
    • WNBA
      • Atlanta Dream
      • Chicago Sky
      • Connecticut Sun
      • Dallas Wings
      • Indiana Fever
      • Los Angeles Sparks
      • Las Vegas Aces
      • Minnesota Lynx
      • NY Liberty
      • Phoenix Mercury
      • Seattle Storm
      • Washington Mystics
    • FREE AGENCY
    • NBA DRAFT
    • FANTASY BASKETBALL
    • BETTING
    Hardwood Heroics
    Home»NBA»Dallas Mavericks»“I Was Just Watching Him” – Dallas Mavericks Icon Dirk Nowitzki Credits Former Showtime Lakers Guard For Helping His NBA Career
    Dallas Mavericks

    “I Was Just Watching Him” – Dallas Mavericks Icon Dirk Nowitzki Credits Former Showtime Lakers Guard For Helping His NBA Career

    Reign AmuraoBy Reign AmuraoSeptember 5, 2025No Comments4 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    dallas mavericks dirk nowitzki
    Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki gets emotional after a video played during a break in the first half of his final home game. (Vernon Bryant / Dallas Morning News via AP)
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki had one of the best careers in the NBA. He spent 21 long seasons in the league and gained the respect of every star and fan for what he did. He became arguably the best European star. Also, no one can forget the iconic 2011 playoff run he had when he defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat.

    But all good careers had to start somewhere. When Nowitkzi first arrived in the US, he struggled to adjust to the pace and physicality of the NBA. Although he played all 82 games in his rookie season, he averaged 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds on 20.6% shooting from three.

    Fortunately for the German star, there was someone to look up to who helped his career early on. According to Nowitzki, AC Green, a former member of the Showtime Lakers, was an inspiration to him. They were teammates in Dallas for just one season, but the one-time Finals MVP learned a lot from him.

    Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki
    Aug 12, 2023; Springfield, MA, USA; Dirk Nowitzki gives his speech as he is inducted into the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

    Nowitzki opened up about it during his interview with “The Dallas Morning News.” The 14-time All-Star revealed how Green helped him with his transition to the NBA.

    “I had a guy called AC Green. He played with the Showtime Lakers and was an ultimate pro. Played like 800 games straight or something. He had the longest Ironman streak. He was on the team my first year and I was just watching him. He was ripped at age 38, 39. I watched his every move in practice. How does he prepare? Does he stretch?” said Nowitzki.

    It resulted in the Dallas Mavericks icon playing for 21 years and having plenty of fruitful seasons.


    Nowitzki believes in the current Dallas Mavericks roster

    Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks, NBA
    Feb 8, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) and guard Kyrie Irving (11) celebrates after Davis dunks the ball during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

    The Dallas Mavericks made significant moves to improve their roster. They’re entering the 2025-26 NBA season without their All-Star guard, Kyrie Irving. It’s expected that Irving will miss significant time away from as he’s recovering from a torn ACL, which he sustained late last season.

    Dallas signed D’Angelo Russell as the temporary replacement for Irving. The Mavs also re-signed Dante Exum and gave PJ Washington a four-year contract extension. Nowitzki appeared on “The DLLS Mavs Podcast” and gave his take on his former team’s current roster.

    “If they’re healthy, they’re one of the deepest teams,” the 2007 MVP said. “If you look at the front court, how it’s loaded with talented players… they have two or three players at every position, especially when Kyrie comes back… Once he comes back and he’s the old Kyrie, that’s a heck of a team that’s super loaded.”

    Aside from Irving, the Mavs still have Anthony Davis, rookie Cooper Flagg and productive role players.

    Anthony Davis Dallas Mavericks
    Feb 8, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) drives to the basket past forward Anthony Davis (3) and Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

    For other sports-related content:

    Follow me on X at @BarbecueBro, and follow us at @HardwoodHeroics and @GridironHeroics. You can also reach out to Reign Amurao via email at reignamuraonba@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!

    Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.

    AC Green Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowi Los Angeles Lakers NBA News Showtime Lakers
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Reign Amurao

    Reign is a sports writer for Sports Heroics, Inc. covering the NBA.

    Related Posts

    “Learn How to Score All Over the Floor” – Minnesota Timberwolves Star Gets Demands From 3-Time NBA Champion

    September 5, 2025

    “A Great Kid” – NBA Trainer Defends Los Angeles Lakers Guard Bronny James Amid Criticism

    September 5, 2025

    2025 HoF Inductee Dwight Howard Explains Why Crazy Beef With Shaquille O’Neal Has to End – ‘I Don’t Think None of It Was for Cameras’

    September 5, 2025

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Recent Posts

    • “It’s Going to be Fun Playing With Him” – Houston Rockets’ Amen Thompson is Relieved to be Teammates With Kevin Durant
    • “You Wish You Could Play With Them Forever” – Boston Celtics Star Laments the Team’s Cost-Cutting Measures This Offseason
    • “We Woulda Won a Championship Bro” – Memphis Grizzlies Legend Drops Painful Rudy Gay Admission
    • “I Just Wish He’d Take Basketball More Seriously” – New Orleans Pelicans’ Jordan Poole Draws Optimistic Prediction from Analyst
    • “Most Interesting Trade Candidate in the NBA” – Utah Jazz Star Labeled as One of the NBA’s Top Trade Targets in 2025-26

    Recent Comments

    1. Martha Schaffrath on “Urgent! Let Me Go There”: Sophie Cunningham Viral Pic With Jewel Loyd’s Mother Gets Lengthy Response Slamming Critics From Aces Guard’s Mom
    2. marijuana mercantile granite falls wa on “I Got Caitlin Clark On My Injury Watch”: Caitlin Clark Could Be The Next Indiana Star Suffering A Major Injury, Citing An ‘Indiana Curse’ That Brought Down Peyton Manning, Paul George & Tyrese Haliburton In Jason Whitlock’s Podcast
    3. Astha on Chet Holmgren’s Game 2 Revival for OKC Thunder Embodies the Grit His Younger Self Asked of Himself
    4. Richard on “The Race is Over” – Oddsmakers and Fans Declare Cooper Flagg as National Player of the Year Following Another Disappointing Night From Johni Broome
    5. RICHARD DALE AKERS on West Virginia Basketball: Mountaineers Squander Close First Half in Loss to #9 Red Raiders
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Write For Us
    • Corporate
    © 2025 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.