March 2007 - Nr. 3
Basketball:
Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki is first European to Start in an All-Star Game
TWIG - Dallas Mavericks player Dirk Nowitzki became the first European ever to start in an All-Star Game when he was brought into the Western Conference starting line-up on Sunday.
Nowitzki was originally foreseen only as an extra player, but Trainer Mike D’Antoni bumped him up to starter status after several of the five starting players had to drop out of the game: Yao Ming (Houston Rockets) and Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns) both could not play due to injuries.
The Western Conference team won with a score of 153:132 points. Kobe Bryant was the All-Star team’s star shooter, with 31 points, and he also won the Most Valuable Player trophy.
"On the court, it doesn’t matter where you’re from," Nowitzki said as reported by The Dallas Morning News. "If you’re from Africa or China, if you’re American or European, it doesn’t matter. Once I step on the court, I don’t see myself as a European. I’m just trying to help my team win."
Boris Becker, who was covering the All-Star
festivities for Germany’s Premiere TV, commented as reported by Street &
Smith’s Sports Business Daily on how strong the NBA brand is in Germany:
"It gets more and more popular the better Nowitzki plays. Every country
needs a local hero; Nowitzki’s ours. The fact that he made it to the Finals
last year, the fact that he’s an All-Star, speaks volumes."
Republished with permission from "The
Week in Germany"
Links:
Hoopsworld.com on the Mavericks
Dirk Nowitzki’s All-Star Profile
