After an incredible 13th year with Team Germany came to an end with its defeat at the hands of Lithuania yesterday, Dirk Nowitzki may be contemplating retirement – in fact, the Germany-based Sport 1 believes it’s a done deal.
Though in an interview with the network, Nowitzki stated that “he wanted to ‘see what the future brings,’” Sport1.de went on to opine that “after the [second] round at the European Championship in Lithuania … everything points to farewell.”
Said Dirk: “It was 13 great years. It was a great time with big success, which I will always look back on with mixed emotions.” (And yes, he was using the past tense: “Es waren 13 tolle Jahre. Es war eine Riesenzeit mit großen Erfolgen, auf die ich immer mit einem lachenden Auge zurückschauen werde,” runs the original.)
Tags: Dirk Nowitzki, EuroBasket 2011, Team Germany, Team Lithuania
I don’t know the source (there is an article in Lithuanian about this: http://www.basketnews.lt/news-42168-bauermannas-jaucia-kad-nowitzki-i-rinktine-sugris.html), but Bauermann thinks Nowitzki would still come back – if not in 2013 then possibly later. I guess if Eurobasket 2015 is going to be in Germany (or partially so) and if the German team seems promising, Nowitzki (then 37) may come back to wrap up his basketball career. It’s a bit late, but well, Jasikevicius is playing fine at 35, and it’s possible he may play at Olympics should we qualify… (as Lithuania will need at least 2 years to “grow” a new good PG to support Kalnietis)
All-Time Points Leaders FIBA EuroBasket:
1. Nikos Galis – 1,030 points – 33 games – 31.2 Points Per Game
2. Dirk Nowitzki – 983 points – 44 games – 22.3 Points Per Game
Nikos Galis remains the greatest scorer in FIBA European Championship history.
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