Steve Nash Has High Praise for Dirk Nowitzki

This past week on The Vertical with JJ Redick, JJ hosted the great Steve Nash to talk about life, basketball, and his career. In the conversation, Nash specifically references his old pal, Dirk Nowitzki.

A few weeks ago, the guys at Yahoo sports launched a new, ground-breaking podcast for the NBA universe that has never been done before; a podcast hosted by an active NBA player on a weekly basis.

Yahoo and Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick teamed up to start this weekly podcast where he talks about his life off the court as a dad and life on the court as an NBA player. His first guest was Washington Wizards forward Jared Dudley while this week was none other than future Hall of Famer, Steve Nash.

As they talked about the game of basketball and Nash’s career, Redick proceeds to quiz Nash on some of the best/favorite things during his career. After trying to get Nash to reveal who his favorite teammate was (which he did mention Nowitzki, along with a couple of other guys), Nash gave a political correct answer on how he couldn’t pick one.

Redick eventually moved on to talking to Nash about how great of a shooter he was for a point guard and proceeded to ask Nask about who was the greatest shooter he had played with over his career.

Here is a transcript from the podcast…

REDICK: “Who is the best shooter you have ever played with?”

NASH: “The best shooter I ever played with…mmm..I have to say Dirk. His ability to shoot the ball a variety of ways and from all over the court. You know not to mention his size, the way he can get it off because he gets it up pretty high back by his head. Yeah, when he shoots it pure, it’s amazing how high he gets, how high it falls.”

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REDICK: “Yeah obviously one of the greatest shooters and one of the greatest scorers of all-time. For anybody that has followed the NBA over the last 15-20 years, Dirk has got to be at the top of most people’s favorite player list. Just an outstanding player, outstanding guy, and competitor.” 

To most Mavs fans, this doesn’t come to a surprise considering the friendship between Nash and Nowitzki from their time in Dallas together, but still high praise from one of the best point guards of all time.

Even somewhat of high praise from Redick which is surprising, considering he is a member of the Clippers…that was a joke, or maybe not.

Listen to full podcast here.

Either way, it’s always good to see high praise thrown at the Big German.