Dirk Nowitzki Presented With Key to the City of Dallas
By Eline de Bruijn ••
Dirk Nowitzki was presented the key to the city of Dallas Wednesday during halftime in the game against the Brooklyn Nets.
Dirk Nowitzki was presented with the key to the city of Dallas Wednesday during halftime in the game against the Brooklyn Nets.
“I said before I leave, I want to do something special for Dirk," said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. "It's got to be somebody who is a very special person [to get the key]. Sort of one of those things when they are great, there is no debate.”
Nowitzki has scored 30,000 points in his 21 season career, all of those with the Dallas Mavericks.
The German is in his 21st season with the Mavs and has yet to play due to soreness in his foot.
Wednesday night's achievement was about so much more than just his numbers on the court.
One of his biggest contributions to the Dallas community is the Dirk Nowirzki Foundation. In Nowitzki's words, it's his way of helping provide education, health and well-being for children who may otherwise not have the opportunity.
“I have tried everything in my power to pay that love back that I got from year one when things weren’t going that well, so that’s my way of paying this loyalty back in being the best player I could be,” said Nowitzki.
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Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki meets "Swish," a puppy in training to be a guide dog for Guide Dogs For The Blind dog school.
Nowitzki is only the third person to be given a key by Mayor Mike Rawlings.
"Nowitzki is being honored not only for his professional achievements in his 20 seasons with the Mavericks organization, but also for his outstanding contributions to the community," city officials said in a statement.
Nowitzki has played with the Mavericks since he was drafted in 1998. He is the first European to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player honor.
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Dirk Nowitzki in 1999 vs. 2018
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January 20,1999: Dirk looks on during the NBA pre- season game against the Phoenix Suns at the Reunion Arena in Dallas.
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February 17, 1999: Dirk smiles on the court during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California.
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March 4, 1999: Dirk in action during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Reunion Arena in Dallas.
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March 7, 2000: Dirk rest on the court during a game against the Seattle SuperSonics at the Key Arena in Seattle.
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November 17, 2000 : Dirk dribbles the ball down the court during the game against the Seattle SuperSonics at the Key Arena in Seattle.
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February 26, 2001 : Dirk looks on from the court before the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
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April 28, 2001: Dirk celebrates with Juwan Howard in game three of round one in the NBA playoffs against the Utah Jazz at Reunion Arena in Dallas.
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May 5, 2001: Dirk against the San Antonio Spurs in game one of the western conference semi-finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
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February 12, 2002: Dirk during the NBA game against the Seattle SuperSonics at the Key Arena in Seattle.
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December 6, 2002: Dirk drives the ball from the perimeter against the Los Angeles Lakers during the NBA game at the Staples Center on December 6, 2002 in Los Angeles.
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April 23, 2003: Dirk Nowitzki celebrates during play against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2003 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 23, 2003 in Dallas.
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DALLAS - MAY 17: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas May 17, May 17, 2003: Mavericks celebrates in Game seven of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Sacramento Kings during the 2003 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 17, 2003 in Dallas.
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Jan 16, 2004: Dirk faces off against the Denver Nuggets with less than a minute left in the game January 16, 2004 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
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November 30, 2004: Dirk shoots a free throw against the San Antonio Spurs during the game on November 30, 2004 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
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December 14, 2004: Dirk looks on before the game against the Golden State Warriors on December 14, 2004 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
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May 2, 2005: Dirk Nowitzki reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the Houston Rockets in Game five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2005 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2005 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
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May 9, 2005: Dirk smiles in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Phoenix Suns during the 2005 NBA Playoffs at America West Arena on May 9, 2005 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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December 22, 2005: Dirk on the court against the Sacramento Kings on December 22, 2005 at Arco Arena in Sacramento.
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February 18, 2006: Dirk waits to shoot in the Footlocker Three-Point Shootout competition during NBA All-Star Weekend at the Toyota Center on February 18, 2006 in Houston.
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April 26, 2006: Dirk drives the ball against Shane Battier of the Memphis Grizzlies in game two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2006 NBA Playoffs at the American Airlines Center.
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May 30, 2006: Dirk reacts to a call in the final moments of the Mavericks' loss to the Phoenix Suns in game four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2006 NBA Playoffs at US Airways Center in Phoenix.
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June 3, 2006: Dirk shoots a free throw in the first half against the Phoenix Suns in game six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2006 NBA Playoffs at the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix.
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June 13, 2006: Dirk greets his teammates after being introduced before the start of the game against the Miami Heat in game three of the 2006 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena in Miami.
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July 16, 2009: Dirk attends the Audi centennial celebration at Audi Forum Ingolstadt in Ingolstadt, Germany.
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August 9, 2006: Dirk arrives at a hotel in Nanjing of Jiangsu Province, China. Dirk Nowitzki is in China to attend the 2006 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup.
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August 11, 2006: Dirk Nowitzki celebrates with his teammates after winning a match between China and Germany at the 2006 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup in Nanjing of Jiangsu Province, China.
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August 19, 2006: Dirk gestures before a game against Japan during the preliminary round of FIBA World Championships 2006 in Hiroshima, Japan.
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November 8, 2006: Dirk looks to pass under pressure from Cuttino Mobley of the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
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December 7, 2006: Dirk looks up during the NBA game against the Detroit Pistons at American Airlines Center.
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January 16, 2007: Dirk receives an award from La Gazzetta dello Sport before a game against the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
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February 13, 2007: Dirk looks on during warmups against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
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May 3, 2007: Dirk looks on against the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
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September 13, 2007: Dirk Nowitzki hangs his head as he leaves the pitch after losing the FIBA Eurobasket 2007 quarter final match between Spain and Germany at the Palacio de Deportes Felipe II in Madrid, Spain.
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November 4, 2007: Dirk waves to the crowd prior to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
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February 16, 2008: Dirk warms up for the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, part of 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend at the New Orleans Arena.
March 25, 2008: Dirk courtside before a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
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August 8, 2008: Dirk carries his country's flag during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium in Beijing, China.
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August 10, 2008: Dirk looks on from the bench while taking on Angola during the day 2 preliminary game at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium in Beijing, China.
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August 16, 2008 : Dirk looks on while taking on China during the group B preliminary basketball game at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium on Day 8 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
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May 3, 2009: Dirk looks on against the Denver Nuggets in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center in Denver.
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August 19, 2009: Dirk attends the unveiling of his wax figure at Madame Tussauds in Berlin, Germany.
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October 30, 2009 : Dirk looks on against Los Angeles Lakers during the NBA basketball game at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
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November 30, 2009: Dirk at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
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January 13, 2010: Dirk at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
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April 18, 2010: Dirk in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center.
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April 23, 2010: Dirk in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center in San Antonio.
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November 17, 2010: Dirk talks with an official during the game against the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena.
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February 17, 2011: Dirk during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center in Phoenix.
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May 21, 2011: Dirk drives to the basket while taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena.
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May 23, 2011: Dirk looks on while taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena.
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May 31, 2011 : Dirk looks on against the Miami Heat in Game One of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena in Miami.
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June 5, 2011 : Dirk looks at his taped finger in the third quarter while taking on the Miami Heat in Game Three of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center.
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June 12, 2011: Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki celebrates after the Mavericks won 105-95 against the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena in Miami.
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June 16, 2011 : Dirk cheers during the Dallas Mavericks Victory Parade in Dallas.
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June 16, 2011: Dirk waves to fans during the Dallas Mavericks Victory celebration in Dallas.
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December 6, 2012 : Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on December 6, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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December 18, 2013: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center on December 18, 2013 in Dallas, Texas.
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December 30, 2014 : Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks takes a shot against the Washington Wizards at American Airlines Center.
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April 12, 2015: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks sits on the bench in front of owner Mark Cuban during the game with the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center.
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September 26, 2016: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during the Dallas Mavericks Media Day held at American Airlines Center.
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December 6, 2017: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
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March 13, 2018: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts in the third quarter against the New York Knicks during their game at Madison Square Garden.
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March 13, 2018 : Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks looks on prior to taking on the New York Knicks during their game at Madison Square Garden.
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Sept. 21, 2018: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during the Dallas Mavericks Media Day held at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
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Sept. 21, 2018: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during the Dallas Mavericks Media Day held at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
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Sept. 29, 2018: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks stands for the National Anthem before the preseason game against the Beijing Ducks at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
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Dec. 16, 2018: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks during play against the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
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Feb. 16, 2019: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots during the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest as part of the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Feb. 17, 2019: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts as they take on Team LeBron in the second quarter during the NBA All-Star game as part of the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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March 6, 2019: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
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March 26, 2019: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks stands during the National Anthem prior to taking on the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
