By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Dirk Nowitzki paid tribute to Don Nelson after the legendary NBA coach died Sunday at the age of 86.
Nelson was the Dallas Mavericks’ head coach and general manager when the franchise acquired Nowitzki’s draft rights from the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998.
He trusted the young German through a difficult rookie season and gave him the freedom to develop the style that would eventually make him one of the greatest international players in NBA history.
“Nellie… You didn’t just draft me. You believed in me. You saw things in my game before I ever realized I could do them. I’ve said it a million times and I will always say it: I don’t think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game. I can only say THANK YOU. For everything. RIP legend,” Nowitzki wrote.
Nowitzki averaged 8.2 points during his shortened rookie season as he struggled to adjust to the NBA. Nelson continued to play him at power forward, creating mismatches by forcing larger defenders to guard him on the perimeter.
His scoring average increased to 17.5 points in his second season and 21.8 in his third, when Dallas returned to the playoffs.
Nowitzki spent all 21 seasons of his NBA career with Dallas. He won the 2007 MVP award and led the Mavericks to the only championship in franchise history in 2011, earning Finals MVP honors.
Dallas later retired his No. 41 jersey, while Nowitzki was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
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