Dirk Nowitzki's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Dirk Nowitzki.

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

2000: FIBA EuroBasket 2000-2020 Dream Team

In 2000,FIBA would have a EuroBasket dream team, that would be revealed in 2020.

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: 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.

November 2002: Western Conference Players of the Month

In November 2002, Finley, Nash, and Nowitzki were voted "Western Conference Players of the Month" after the Mavericks won their first fourteen games of the 2002-03 NBA season.

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: Euroscar European Basketball Player of the Year

In 2002, Nowitzki was named the Euroscar European Basketball Player of the Year by Gazzetta dello Sport.

2002: MVP of the 2002 FIBA World Championship

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

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: Mister Europa European Player of the Year

In 2005, Nowitzki was named the Mister Europa European Player of the Year by Superbasket, and the FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year.

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: Euroscar European Basketball Player of the Year

In 2006, Nowitzki was named the Euroscar European Basketball Player of the Year by Gazzetta dello Sport.

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: 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.

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.

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: Euroscar European Basketball Player of the Year

In 2011, Nowitzki was named the Euroscar European Basketball Player of the Year by Gazzetta dello Sport, and the FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

2017: NBA Teammate of the Year award

In 2017, Nowitzki won the NBA Teammate of the Year award.

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.

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.

December 2019: Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

In December 2019, Nowitzki received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

2020: FIBA EuroBasket 2000-2020 Dream Team

In 2020, Nowitzki was named to the FIBA EuroBasket 2000–2020 Dream Team.

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.

January 5, 2022: Mavericks retired number 41

On January 5, 2022, Nowitzki's number 41 was retired by the Mavericks, and a statue was announced to be installed outside the American Airlines Center.

September 2022: Number Retired by Germany

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

September 2022: Jersey Retirement by DBB

In September 2022, the German Basketball Federation (DBB) honored Nowitzki with a jersey (number 14) retirement ahead of EuroBasket 2022. A replica of his jersey would hang at all future Germany men's home games.

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.