Dallas – The night his jersey was retired dirk nowitzki Last season, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban promised that “the greatest statue in basketball history” would be installed in front of the American Airlines Center to honor the legend.
“It’s a promise I’m happy to keep, because you’ve earned it,” Cuban told Nowitzki on Christmas morning, as the nearly 24-foot-tall statue was unveiled on the street that had been renamed a few years earlier. Was given, like the Nowitzki way.
Another moment we will always remember. @ chime , #allfourone pic.twitter.com/aQgCoqOEEW
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 25, 2022
The white bronze statue is a sculpture of Nowitzki’s iconic one-footed shot, the same shot shown in silhouette near the left block on either end of the American Airlines Center. The shot became known as “The Dirk” as the German moved up to sixth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Doncic and several other Mavericks attended the ceremony, as did coach Jason Kidd, Nowitzki’s former teammate.
“One more stop: the Hall of Fame,” Kidd said, referring to Nowitzki’s sure ascent to the next grade.
Artist Omri Amarni created the statue, one of many created to honor NBA legends including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal. The statue is packed with details including the shoes and uniform Nowitzki wore while leading the Mavericks to the 2010-11 NBA Championship, the franchise’s only title.
The base of the statue reads: “Loyalty never fades,” a tribute to Nowitzki who spent his entire career in Dallas, playing 21 seasons for one franchise, setting an NBA record.
Nowitzki said, “Here are my 21 letters for my 21 years.”
