Asked in a post-match press conference following the defeat against the Mavericks, LeBron James spoke about the legend of the Texas franchise, Dirk Nowitzki. The Lakers star took the opportunity to pay tribute to the Wunderkid and his impact on the game.
Ultimate legend of the maverick franchise, Dirk Nowitzki had already received a nice Christmas present with this statute with his effigy in front of the American Airlines Center. It is another tribute, and not the least, that the native of Würtzburg (Germany) received after the victory of his beloved Mavs against the Lakers. It’s LeBron James himself who spoke about him, and who seemed to have a lot of praise for the Franz Beckenbauer of the orange ball.
“I think he’s the greatest international player ever. I put him right there with Manu… That boy was cold man. Dirk was cold. He revolutionized what a stretch 4 big could look like.”
LeBron James on Dirk Nowitzki ???? pic.twitter.com/YUVcwwmoae
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) December 26, 2022
“Dirk is a legend, he’s an icon, I think he’s the best international player of all time, along with Manu (Ginobili, editor’s note) […] It revolutionized the role of stretch-fours […] You couldn’t put a short player to defend him because he was too tall, you also couldn’t put a slow inside because he had a too fast first step, you couldn’t counter him because he was shooting high like Larry Bird. When we talk about the best power forwards in history, he is there, with Charles Barkley, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Kevin McHale” – LeBron James
This is a new testimony that should please the Wunderkid, who faced LeBron many times during his long career and in particular during the 2011 Finals between Dallas and Miami. It should be noted however that the King speaks of the best “international” player of all time, which therefore removes the Americans from the equation. That’s good, the great Dirk has just revived the Goat debate in… sending praise to LBJ the same day! We recall that Dirk could join the class of 2023 of the Hall of Fame. He would notably find there his old rival Dwyane Wade but also Pau Gasol and Tony Parker, other international legends for a cuvée which will smell decidedly good of the Old Continent.
Dirk Nowitzki has established himself, throughout his twenty-one years on the NBA courts, as an undeniable legend of the orange ball. It was well worth a big tribute from another great of the sport, LeBron James.
Source texte : ClutchPoints