Over the past couple years, more and more German media outlets have asked Dirk Nowitzi if he could imagine coming back to Germany when he’s done with the NBA. And German coaches and managers have been asked what they think about Dirk eventually coming back. And now Detlef Schrempf has chimed in.
In an interview with the German sports magazine kicker, the former NBA star and German international said Dirk Nowitzki would probably be best served not coming back to play club basketball in his native Deutschland.
“Dirk still has some good years in front of him in the NBA. He should really think hard if he wants to play somewhere else after that. In essence, he can only lose,” Schrempf said.
“Here (in Germany) he would be under endless pressure from his opponents and the media. Everyone would expect 30 points a game from him. But European basketball is a team game, no individual player can make the difference – unlike in the NBA.”
Schrempf was in Germany for about a week to watch the German Top 4 tournament in Hamburg, visit his parents in Leverkusen and meet with German national team coach Dirk Bauermann.
Schrempf admitted that he was concerned about German international players not getting any playing time during the Top 4 event.
“That German national team players are sitting on the bench is alarming. A player cannot get better that way. He has to play, not just practice,” Schrempf said.
When asked what he thinks he can do to help German basketball, the former forward with Dallas, Indiana, Seattle and Portland from 1985 to 2001 said: “I am fully booked in Seattle with my career, my foundation and my family. I really don’t have any more than two weeks a year.”
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