Dirk Werner Nowitzki, better known as Dirk Nowitzki, is a former professional basketball player and front office executive from Germany. After playing for DJK Wurzburg from 1994 to 1998, he was picked ninth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1998 NBA Draft. Nowitzki is a special advisor for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. He is regarded as one of the best power forwards of all time. In addition, he is regarded as the best European player of all time.
He was promptly traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he spent the remainder of his 21-year NBA career. He led the Mavericks to the NBA Championship in 2011, where he was awarded Finals MVP. Dirk previously won the NBA MVP award in 2007. He set multiple NBA records during his professional career. He is the first player to have at least 31,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, 1,000 steals, 1,000 blocks, and 1,000 three-point field goals.
Quick Facts
| Celebrated Name | Dirk Nowitzki |
|---|---|
| Age | 45 Years |
| Nick Name | Dirk |
| Birth Name | Dirk Werner Nowitzki |
| Birth Date | 1978-06-19 |
| Gender | Male |
| Profession | Former Basketball Player |
| Place Of Birth | Wurzburg |
| Birth Nation | West Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Famous For | A retired German basketball player who won NBA Championship with Dallas Mavericks in 2011 |
| Father | Jorg-Werner |
| Mother | Helga Bredenbrocker |
| Siblings | 1 |
| Sisters | Silke Nowitzki |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| First Club | DJK Wurzburg |
| Position | Power Forward |
| Jersey Number | 41, 14 |
| Awards | NBA MVP in 2007 |
| Height | 2.13 m (7 ft) |
| Weight | 245 lbs (111 kg) |
| Body Shape | Athletic |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Wife | Jessica Olsson |
| Married Date | July 20, 2012 |
| CJuly 20 | One daughter and two sons |
| Source of Wealth | Basketball (Contract, Salary, Bonus, Endorsement), Basketball Manager (Contract, Salary) |
| Salary | $15 million in the early 2010s |
| Net Worth | $140 million |
Biography And Early Life
Dirk Nowitzki was born on June 19, 1978, in Dallas, Texas. Dirk Werner Nowitzki is his given name. Wurzburg, West Germany, is where he was born. He is of German origin. He was born to Jorg-Werner Bredenbrocker and Helga Bredenbrocker. Silke Nowitzki, his older sister, is a tennis player.
Nowitzki began his career playing handball and tennis, eventually becoming a rated junior tennis player in the German youth circuit. He attempted basketball because of his height.
Height & Weight
How tall is Dirk Nowitzki? Dirk Nowitzki is 7 feet tall and 2.13 meters tall. He weighs about 111 pounds or 245 kilograms. He has a muscular physique. His eyes are brown, and his hair is blonde. His sexual orientation is heterosexual.
Career
Nowitzki became a member of the local DJK Wurzburg. Holger Geschwindner, a former German international basketball player, saw the youthful promise and volunteered to train him privately. The coach assisted him in honing his abilities. He finally began training full-time with Geschwindner. In 1994, he joined the DJK squad. At the time, he was only 16 years old.
DJK was competing in Germany’s second-tier league at the time. He was a backup in his first season with the club before becoming a regular starter the following year.
He completed his “Abitur” (German A-levels) during the 1997-98 school year and served in the Bundeswehr from September 1997 to June 1998. Following his return, he was vital to DJK’s promotion to the top-tier league.
He was named “German Basketballer of the Year” after becoming the team’s highest scorer, averaging 28.2 points per game.
In 1998, he was picked to play in the Nike Hoop Summit after participating in the Nike “Hoop Heroes Tour.” His performance piqued the curiosity of several European clubs as well as NBA teams.
In 1999, he was named Bundesliga Top Scorer and Bundesliga MVP. He received acceptance letters from numerous institutions in the United States. He did, however, enter the 1998 NBA Draft. In the draft, he was chosen ninth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks immediately traded him to the Dallas Mavericks in a multi-team deal. In his debut season, Nowitzki struggled to make an impact in the NBA. In his second NBA season, he improved and was named runner-up for the NBA Most Improved Player Award. He played for the Mavericks throughout his entire 21-year NBA career. He guided the team to 15 NBA playoff appearances. In 2006, he led the team to its first NBA finals appearance. They did, however, lose in the finals. In 2011, he guided the Mavericks to their first NBA championship. He was also voted NBA Finals MVP.
During his 21-year career, he was an NBA All-Star 14 times and an All-NBA Team member 12 times.
In 2007, he was awarded NBA MVP.
During his career, he also set multiple NBA and Mavericks franchise records. He is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer among foreign-born players. He is the first Maverick to be named to an NBA All-Star team. Dirk retired from basketball in 2019 after a 21-year career with the Mavericks. He finished his NBA career with 31,560 points (20.7 ppg), 11,489 rebounds (7.5 rpg), and 3,651 assists (2.4 apg).
Following his retirement, he ranked sixth among National Basketball Association lifetime scorers. He later joined the Mavericks as a special advisor.
Dirk Nowitzki Wife & Marriage
Jessica Olsson is his wife. Jessica Olsson is the twin sister of Swedish footballers Martin and Marcus Olsson. The couple began dating in 2010. On July 20, 2012, July 20xchanged vows. They have one daughter and two sons.
Nowitzki was previously linked to Sybille Gerer. Sybille was a female basketball player from his hometown’s DJK club. They spanned the years 1992 through 2002.
Dirk Nowitzki’s Net Worth
Dirk Nowitzki made a living as a professional basketball player. He played his whole 21-year NBA career with the Mavericks. He was formerly considered one of the NBA’s highest-paid players. During his 21-year NBA career, he signed many contract extensions with the Mavericks. In 2001, he became the second-highest-paid German athlete when he signed a six-year contract with the Mavericks worth $90 million. He signed a $25 million contract deal with the Mavericks in 2014. His final contract with the Mavericks was inked in July 2017, after signing a two-year, $10 million contract extension. After retiring from basketball, he became the Mavericks’ special advisor. During his prime, he earned around $15 million each year. Dirk Nowitzki’s net worth is estimated at $140 million as of January 2024.
Facts
- His father was a professional handball player for the German national team, while his mother was a professional basketball player.
- His sister was a local track and field winner who later became a basketball player.
- He is the fourth German to play in the NBA.
- He is the only Wurzburg player to have played in the NBA.
- He is the tallest player to ever compete in the Three-Point Contest.
