Dallas Mavericks: City of Dallas hosts ceremony to unveil Nowitzki Way

Dirk Nowitzki Dallas Mavericks (Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Dirk Nowitzki Dallas Mavericks (Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images) /
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The city of Dallas and the Dallas Mavericks unveiled the newly named “Nowitzki Way” street in honor of the greatest Dallas Mavericks player of all time, Dirk Nowitzki.

If you were lucky enough to grow up watching Dirk Nowitzki, you fully understand that there is no honor that could be bestowed upon the big German that would be underserved. That is why when word came out that the city of Dallas would be renaming a street near the American Airlines Center in honor of the greatest Dallas Mavericks player ever, no one really thought twice about it.

The ceremony honoring Dirk and the newly named “Nowitzki Way” took place yesterday afternoon and had Dirk himself unveiling the street sign, which was formerly Olive Street. Nowitzki Way will be just a portion of Olive Street running next to the American Airlines Center.

This move by the City of Dallas is about more than basketball, and that is important to remember because Dirk Nowitzki was about way more than basketball. The work he did in the community and through a number of charities was always bigger than his time on the court, which was obviously very significant.

Dirk brought the only championship in franchise history to Dallas in 2011 along with the Finals MVP award. He led the team during the best years of the franchise and took the team to 12 straight playoff appearances and 15 total. In the entire franchise history, the Mavs have only made the playoffs 21 times.

Dirk’s work in the community was really something amazing, though. His work at the children’s hospitals, the charity events, everything he did was for someone else. For a superstar in the NBA to be as selfless and opposed to the limelight is something we may never see again.

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Next time you make it down to the American Airlines Center, be sure to check out the new Nowitzki Way and remember the good times that he brought the city of Dallas.