Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Dirk Nowitzki

How Dirk Nowitzki built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Dirk Nowitzki is a retired German professional basketball player, currently a special advisor for the Dallas Mavericks. At 7 feet tall, he is celebrated as one of basketball's greatest power forwards and is often regarded as the best European player ever. Nowitzki was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1990: Playoff Appearance

In the 2000-01 NBA season, the Mavericks reached the playoffs for the first time since 1990.

1992: Olympics

In 1992, The German basketball team attended the Olympics for the first time since then Nowitzki made it happen in 2008.

1997: Debut with German National Team

In 1997, Dirk Nowitzki began playing for the German national basketball team.

1997: Michael Jordan's "Flu Game" Comparison

In 2011, during Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, Dirk Nowitzki, despite having a 101°F (38°C) fever, made the winning basket to tie the series at 2. This feat drew comparisons to Michael Jordan's famous "Flu Game" in the 1997 NBA Finals against Utah.

1998: Drafted into the NBA and Traded to the Mavericks

In 1998, Dirk Nowitzki was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the ninth pick, and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he would play his entire 21-year NBA career.

1998: Drafted into the NBA

In 1998, Dirk Nowitzki was drafted into the NBA. The Milwaukee Bucks selected Nowitzki with the ninth pick in the draft and traded him to the Dallas Mavericks.

1999: EuroBasket Debut

In 1999, Dirk Nowitzki debuted at the EuroBasket tournament, becoming the main German scorer.

January 4, 2000: Mark Cuban Buys the Mavericks

On January 4, 2000, Mark Cuban bought the Dallas Mavericks for $280 million and invested heavily in the team.

2000: Comparison to Karl Malone

In 2015, Dirk Nowitzki had a 40-point game, the first by a 37-year-old since Karl Malone in 2000-2001.

2000: Improved Stats and All-NBA Third Team Selection

In the 2000-01 NBA season, Dirk Nowitzki further improved his averages, recording 21.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, and was selected for the All-NBA Third Team.

2001: NBA Playoff Appearance

In 2001, Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks to their first NBA Playoff appearance.

2001: EuroBasket 2001

In EuroBasket 2001, Dirk Nowitzki was the top scorer and narrowly lost the MVP vote to Peja Stojaković. Germany reached the semi-finals but did not win a medal.

2002: Bronze Medal at FIBA World Championship

In 2002, Dirk Nowitzki led Germany to a bronze medal in the FIBA World Championship and was elected the tournament MVP. He was the tournament's top scorer, averaging 24.0 points per game. In the quarter-finals against Spain, Nowitzki scored 10 points in the last quarter, leading Germany to a 70-62 win. In the semi-finals, Germany lost to Argentina 86-80, despite leading 74-69 four minutes from the end.

2002: FIBA World Championship Bronze Medal

In 2002, Dirk Nowitzki led the Germany national team to a bronze medal in the FIBA World Championship and was the leading scorer and MVP of the tournament.

2002: MVP of the 2002 FIBA World Championship

In 2002, Nowitzki was the leading scorer and MVP of the FIBA World Championship.

2003: Mavericks reach Western Conference Finals

In 2003, Nowitzki led the Mavericks to a 60-22 record and defeated the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings in the playoffs. During Game 7 against the Kings, Nowitzki scored 30 points and grabbed 19 rebounds. However, during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs, Nowitzki injured his knee after colliding with Manu Ginóbili, which forced him out of the series. The Mavericks lost in six games.

December 2, 2004: Nowitzki Scores Career High

On December 2, 2004, Nowitzki scored 53 points in an overtime win against the Houston Rockets, marking a career-best for him.

2005: EuroBasket Finals and MVP Award

In 2005, Dirk Nowitzki led a depleted German squad into the EuroBasket Finals. Germany beat title favorites Slovenia in the quarter-finals and Spain in the semi-finals. Nowitzki was the tournament's leading scorer (26.1 per game), and second-leading rebounder (10.6 per game), and shot blocker (1.9 per game), and he was also voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Germany lost the Finals to Greece, earning a silver medal.

2005: EuroBasket Silver Medal

In 2005, Dirk Nowitzki led the Germany national team to a silver medal in EuroBasket and was the leading scorer and MVP of the tournament.

2005: MVP of EuroBasket 2005 tournament

In 2005, Nowitzki was the MVP of EuroBasket tournament.

2006: Three-Point Contest Win

During the 2006 All-Star Weekend in Houston, Nowitzki won the Three-Point Contest, defeating Ray Allen and Gilbert Arenas.

2006: First NBA Finals Appearance

In 2006, Dirk Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance.

2006: Eighth Place at FIBA World Championship

In 2006, Dirk Nowitzki led the German team to an eighth-place finish at the FIBA World Championship.

2006: Mavericks reach the NBA Finals

In 2006, Nowitzki led the Mavericks to a 60-win season and the NBA Finals, where they faced the Miami Heat. During the Western Conference Finals against the Suns, Nowitzki scored a playoff career-high 50 points in Game 5. ESPN columnist Bill Simmons noted Nowitzki's high level of play, comparing him to Larry Bird.

2006: Won 2006 NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest

In 2006, Nowitzki won the NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest, showcasing his exceptional shooting ability. He also became a member of the NBA's 50–40–90 Club.

2007: NBA Most Valuable Player Award

In 2007, Dirk Nowitzki won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.

2007: EuroBasket 2007

In 2007, Nowitzki led Germany to fifth place at the EuroBasket 2007 tournament, where the top three teams automatically qualified for the 2008 Olympics. He was the leading scorer with 24.0 points per game.

2007: Named NBA's regular-season Most Valuable Player

In 2007, despite a first-round playoff loss to the Golden State Warriors, Nowitzki was named the NBA's regular-season Most Valuable Player, becoming the first European player in NBA history to receive the honor.

February 6, 2008: First Career Triple-Double

On February 6, 2008, Nowitzki recorded his first career triple-double against the Milwaukee Bucks, with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists.

March 8, 2008: Mavericks All-Time Leading Scorer

On March 8, 2008, Nowitzki became the Mavericks' all-time career points leader, surpassing Rolando Blackman with his 16,644th point against the New Jersey Nets.

2008: 2008 Olympics

In 2008, Nowitzki led Germany to a decisive victory against Puerto Rico, securing the German basketball team's first Olympics appearance since 1992. He was chosen as the flag bearer for the German Olympic Team and led the team to a tenth-place finish, averaging 17.0 points and 8.4 rebounds for the tournament.

2009: Mavericks Win First-Round Playoff Series

In 2009, Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to a 50-32 season finish and an upset win over the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, winning the series 4-1. However, they fell short against the Denver Nuggets in the second round, losing 4-1.

2009: Skipped EuroBasket 2009

In 2009, Nowitzki skipped the EuroBasket 2009 tournament.

January 13, 2010: 20,000-Point Milestone

On January 13, 2010, Nowitzki became the 34th player in NBA history, and the first European, to hit the 20,000-point milestone.

July 2010: Skipped 2010 FIBA World Championship

In July 2010, Nowitzki announced that he would skip the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

December 8, 2011: NBA Lockout Ends

On December 8, 2011, the NBA lockout ended. The Dallas Mavericks lost key players and added Lamar Odom, Delonte West, and Vince Carter.

2011: NBA Championship and Finals MVP

In 2011, Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks faced the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. Despite tearing a tendon in his left middle finger in Game 1, Nowitzki led the Mavericks to win the championship. He was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. He made a driving left-handed layup over Chris Bosh in game 2, despite a 101°F (38°C) fever in Game 4, he hit the winning basket. Dallas won the next two games, with Nowitzki scoring 10 fourth-quarter points in the series-clinching game in Miami.

2011: Played in EuroBasket 2011

In 2011, Nowitzki played with Germany in the EuroBasket 2011, where the team reached ninth place.

2011: NBA Finals MVP

In 2011, Nowitzki was the MVP of the NBA Finals.

December 10, 2012: Naismith Legacy Award

On December 10, 2012, Dirk Nowitzki became the first non-American player to receive the Naismith Legacy Award.

December 23, 2012: Return to the Court

On December 23, 2012, Dirk Nowitzki returned to the court in a game against San Antonio after recovering from knee surgery.

2012: NBA Playoff Appearance

In 2012, Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks to an NBA Playoff appearance.

2012: Playoff Sweep by Oklahoma City Thunder

In 2012, Dirk Nowitzki made his 11th All-Star game appearance. The Mavericks clinched the seventh spot in the West, but were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

April 14, 2013: 25,000 Career Points Milestone

On April 14, 2013, Dirk Nowitzki became the 17th player in NBA history to score 25,000 points during a game against the New Orleans Hornets. The Mavericks reached .500, and Nowitzki shaved his beard. However, the Mavericks missed the playoffs.

January 2014: Last 40 Point Game Until 2015

In March 2015, Dirk Nowitzki scored 40 points for the first time since January 2014.

January 29, 2014: 26,000th Career Point

On January 29, 2014, Dirk Nowitzki scored his 26,000th point in a game against the Houston Rockets, recording 38 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 assists.

March 12, 2014: Passing John Havlicek on Scoring List

On March 12, 2014, Dirk Nowitzki passed John Havlicek on the NBA scoring list, finishing the game with 31 points in a victory over the Utah Jazz.

April 8, 2014: Move to 10th on All-Time Scoring List

On April 8, 2014, Dirk Nowitzki scored his 26,712th point, surpassing Oscar Robertson to move to the 10th position on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

July 15, 2014: Re-Signing with the Mavericks

On July 15, 2014, Dirk Nowitzki re-signed with the Dallas Mavericks with a reported three-year, $25 million contract and was reunited with Tyson Chandler. Shawn Marion signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

November 11, 2014: Highest-Scoring International Player

On November 11, 2014, Dirk Nowitzki surpassed Hakeem Olajuwon as the highest-scoring player born outside the United States, scoring 23 points in a win against Sacramento.

2014: NBA Playoff Appearance

In 2014, Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks to an NBA Playoff appearance.

January 5, 2015: Passing Moses Malone on All-Time Scoring List

On January 5, 2015, Dirk Nowitzki passed Moses Malone for seventh place on the NBA's all-time scoring list in a win over the Brooklyn Nets.

November 11, 2015: Season-High 31 Points

On November 11, 2015, Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-high 31 points in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He also passed Shawn Marion for 15th on the all-time career rebounding list.

2015: Captained Germany at EuroBasket

In 2015, Nowitzki captained Germany at the EuroBasket. They won only one game and were eliminated in the group stage on home soil.

January 2016: Retired from Germany's national team

In January 2016, Nowitzki officially announced his retirement from Germany's national team, ending his career with averages of 19.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.

July 27, 2016: Re-signing with the Mavericks

On July 27, 2016, Dirk Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks.

2016: Exercising Player Option

Following the 2016-17 season, Dirk Nowitzki exercised his player option to become a free agent, allowing the Mavericks to re-sign him with less money.

2016: NBA Playoff Appearance

In 2016, Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks to an NBA Playoff appearance.

March 7, 2017: 30,000 Career Points

On March 7, 2017, Dirk Nowitzki became the sixth player in NBA history to score 30,000 regular-season points in a win against the Los Angeles Lakers. He became the first international player to reach the milestone.

July 6, 2017: Re-Signing with the Mavericks

On July 6, 2017, Dirk Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks on a two-year, $10 million contract.

February 5, 2018: 50,000 Career Minutes

On February 5, 2018, Dirk Nowitzki became the sixth player in NBA history to reach 50,000 career minutes in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

February 28, 2018: 31,000 Career Points

On February 28, 2018, Dirk Nowitzki reached 31,000 career points in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

March 17, 2018: 1,463rd Career Game

On March 17, 2018, Dirk Nowitzki played in his 1,463rd game, moving past Kevin Garnett into fifth place in the NBA career list, in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

July 23, 2018: Re-Signing with the Mavericks

On July 23, 2018, Dirk Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks for the 2018–19 season.

December 13, 2018: Record for Most Seasons with the Same Team

On December 13, 2018, Dirk Nowitzki set the NBA record for the most seasons played with the same team (21), breaking a tie with Kobe Bryant. He also became the fifth player in NBA history to play 21 seasons.

March 18, 2019: Sixth-Highest Scoring Player of All Time

On March 18, 2019, Dirk Nowitzki became the sixth-highest scoring player of all time, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's 31,419 points in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

2021: Selected to NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In 2021, Dirk Nowitzki was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, which recognized the greatest players in NBA history.

September 2022: Number Retired by Germany

In September 2022, Dirk Nowitzki became the first German men's player to have his number retired.

2023: Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2023, Dirk Nowitzki was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, solidifying his legacy as one of basketball's all-time greats.