Nowitzki played with the Dallas Mavericks between 1998 and 2019 and crowned his career with an NBA title in 2011 and was noted for over 31,000 points during his career, where he remained faithful to Dallas.
- I managed almost throughout the whole ceremony but you guys get it to burst for me every time.
I will always be grateful, says 43-year-old Nowitzki who was honored during the half-time break when he saw the flag with # 41 go to the ceiling together with his Swedish wife Jessica Olsson (siblings of the football players Marcus and Martin) and their three children.
He gave a speech from the field where a podium was set up.
After the third period, Golden States stars appeared with Stephen Curry in the lead in a pre-recorded video.
Curry: "He is an icon"
- He is an icon who did it in his own way and played with the same team for 21 years with everything it has meant for the city and the organization.
He showed the way for other international players and made them believe that they could make fantastic careers in the NBA, give them confidence, said three-point king Stephen Curry afterwards.
His suite of around 160 games in a row with three points was close to cracking.
Curry had a disastrous night and put only one three-pointer (missed eight shots) and put five of 24 two-point shot attempts.
He stayed at 14 points.
Golden States' 82 points was the lowest for the team this season.
- As it feels right now, I am not optimistic about playing next night, Curry says before the meeting with New Orleans.