Dirk Nowitzki considering a German stint at Euro Basket Tournament - NBA News
Dallas Mavericks’ superstar Dirk Nowitzki is considering playing for his native country, Germany, in the 2011 FIBA Euro Basket – an event which tips off in 31st August.
The German National team is in desperate need of Nowitzki’s on field brilliance and experience. The tournament is gateway to the London Olympics. Only the top six teams of the total 24 will qualify for the next 2012 Olympics. With
a cut throat competition in the European circle, Germany chances will be greatly enhanced if Nowitzki gives a positive nod. Without him, it safe to say, that they don’t have much of a chance.
However, the newly crowned NBA Champion Dirk Nowitzki is uncertain whether to play for Germany this summer or not. The veteran power forward has only just found some down time after his engagement in the gruelling NBA post-season.
The sharp-shooter was the reason, that the Mavs won their first ever NBA Championship and was declared the MVP for the finals. With the European tourney coming so early, Nowitzki is not sure whether his body can take the load.
In an interview on a local radio station, he said.
"I basically told them I was going to rejoin them and help them get to the Olympics one more time. I made my dream, going to the Olympics, and a lot of the team is new now. We've got a lot of young guys and they haven't been there.
A lot of the old guys basically retired after the last Olympic run, so I told them I was going to help a lot of the young guys reach their dream as well. That was my goal the last three years, obviously not knowing that [the Mavericks] would be playing until
mid-June. I was hoping, but you never know."
One factor, which may also restrict Nowitzki’s European stint, is that the Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban does not like his players go and play international tournaments. In the past, Cuban has prevented his players from representing
their home countries as they cannot be held accountable in case of an injury. Cuban and Nowitzki also had an agreement on the same lines and due to that contract Dirk Nowitzki has not played a single game for his country for last two summers.
Nowitzki last played for Germany in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, an experience the seven foot German still recalls as one of the highlights of his career. Considering that the 2012 Olympics might be the last international hurrah
he has to offer, Nowitzki might just decide to brave through his fatigue and the resistance of his eccentric owner Mark Cuban.
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