How an Unathletic White Guy HUMBLED The NBA Elite
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
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This is the Story of how a slow, skinny European took his revenge on the league that doubted him, went on the Greatest Finals run in NBA history and HUMBLED the NBA Elite
#dirknowitzki #underdog #nba
They MOCKED Him For Being Sick, So He Took REVENGE
They Laughed At Him For Being Too Soft, So He Took REVENGE
How a Slow & Unathletic European HUMILIATED The NBA Elite
How an Unathletic White Guy Dominated The NBA Elite
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German here...Dirk is regarded here as a great hero. His humbleness and that he stayed like the guy from next door earned him huge respect..he's one of us🙏
American/Texan here… Thanks to Germany for giving us Dirk. One of the greatest to ever step on a court. I held back tears when he finally pushed my Dallas Mavericks to the top of the basketball world and won the NBA Finals. He did it all in Dallas, which makes me appreciate him even more. He’s a legend in Germany, but know this… he’s a Texas legend as well. 💪🏽
was für hero haha
Die Bank mit dem Dirk
@@CavHDeu hahahahahahaha
I would say he is the Schumacher for basketball here. When I thought of it this man came into my mind like Schumacher when racing. And I would say both were kinda down to the ground different personalities yes, but they stayed how they were.
ok but i do not believe the term "Unathletic" actually applies here
It's silly but obviously they mean not "athletic" in the more traditional sense, i.e. vertical leap, crazy footspeed, shit like that. Plenty of people fail to recognize that all the speed and hops and muscle in the world doesn't mean shit if you don't have the fundamentals and intangibles to build around it. Plus there are other much more subtle forms of athleticism, and Luka now is the perfect example. They say the same "unathletic" stuff about him, but anyone who plays ball and isn't a moron should know how much insane core strength it takes to stop on a dime the way he does, shift your momentum and change directions, starting and stopping to control the offense like he does and confuse the defense, not to mention the endurance needed to have the crazy high usage he's had for entire seasons in the past.
@@michaelhaydenbellLuka has a 42 inch vertical leap FFS.
it's okay to call him "more unathletic than other great players of the same sport" if it's your opinion, but i don't think that's even true...
it’s just to get clicks, rude but still just a surface level shock tactic. dirk is clearly more athletic than your average person
@ By A LOT^^
The self-proclaimed GOAT mocked a player for fake coughing... Then proceeds to choke for real.
Le Goat Le Choke 😊✌
It doesn't even make sense: Dirk was dragging his ass onto the pitch and delivered a good game while being visibly physically ill, and they mock him for being "soft". Stupid clowns. I don't give a shit about their status as legends of the game, this is just stupid... and most importantly: bad sportsmanship.
@@GombySprangster "not racist"
@@Hurricane2k8 In their heads they thought so much of themselves that the only reason their pidgeon brains could come up with as to why dirk was coughing was dirk being scared of facing them in the match. unmatched arrogance that makes it so much more satisfying.
@@Hurricane2k8 Yeah, this is the opposite of soft. Playing as sick as that AND doing a good job against such strong players.
Those 2 assclowns laughing at and mocking Dirk's flu really should be much MUCH more mentioned and in turn, MOCKED, than it is...
Insanely childish and unprofessional, just like he said.
All the Bron haters should still be tearing him up for that
Don't need to. Wades children have made him a joke and LeBron has also become a joke for everyone except degenerates.
there is another video on the 2011 playoffs that put it pretty well. not verbatim but goes something like this:
"in hindsight, maybe lebron and wade weren't mock caughing, but actually choking"
Here just for the caption, calling Dirk unathletic. Too many people focus solely on his later years and overlook that young Dirk was a versatile, dynamic athlete. He could run, jump, and thrive in the league’s physical, fast-paced style. His transition to a more skill-based game wasn’t due to a lack of athleticism-it was a testament to how he built on an already impressive foundation.
came here to says this. in his early years, he was actually pretty agile for a 7'0 player. probably the most agile 7'0 player of his generation.
It was the idea of his private coach, that coach made sure that he played in a way that had less chances for severe injuries. He developed a stay that relied more on skills than physical power. Your right it was not because of lack of athleticism. It was more to become skill wise maximal effective.
they saying the same thing with luka.
well, dirk looks unathletic indeed, but that's just it. he looks unathletic, but the way he moves in the court is the complete opposite. as far as i am aware, he is the first one at that height that could carry the ball.
Dirk's 2011 championship is the most legitimate title ever.
Is there a illegitimate title?
@@sarisari6942The haters will say the bubble title.
@@sarisari6942 That's not the point; there is definitely a spectrum as far as it pertains to idividual players' careers. Case in point, KD joining the Warriors. You don't think for all intents and purposes that bailing out on your team to join the team you were just one single win away from defeating who just broke the all-time single season record is maybe not quite as impressive or "legit" as sticking with your team through thick and thin and being written off completely only to will yourself to shocking the world?
@ so KD rings is illegitimate? i think he is just doing his job...he is getting paid by millions to bring a chip for his team. and he do it twice...imagine telling this to Joe Lacob who spent millions to get that chip lol...anyway the only shame is getting paid by max and u cant even win a conference finals or joining a superteam and u cant even defeat an aging dirk in the 2011 finals lol.
@ Mf did I SAY that? Jesus Christ it is amazing the lengths so many people go to subconsciously avoid nuance or critical thinking in any way. Does Anthony Bennett suck at basketball compared to Kobe? Anyone serious will say yes. THAT DOESN'T MEAN I SAID HE SUCKS; ANYONE WHO MAKES THE NBA IS GOOD AT BASKETBALL, BUT SOME ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS. Things are not black and white, so we try to place them on a spectrum for proper context and comparison. Does that make it a little easier for you to understand now? If not then I can't help you.
As a German I'm very happy that we have a great ambassador in the United States. Dirk will always be one of my favorite people and I feel satisfied that he got the ring and most of all the respect he deserves. His farewll tour through the States with Highlights like TD Garden rooting for him, Doc Rivers taking the mic and the Texas Rivel SA Spurs honoring him with a big presentation shows that he surely left footprints in the NBA.
As Your neighbour just East from you I’m happy for both of you. Dirk is a great player who proved his worth
What about Dennis Schröder?
Dude schröder ist not even close to dirk in terms of legacy
@ Maybe because he is still very Young!?
Maybe he will top Dirk some day.
@@arcanummortis440 He's 31, he's not young. I do think highly of him as a leader of the national team but he's nowhere near Dirk in any metric. The person you should look to is Franz Wagner. He could be our next proper superstar.
To date, the mavs 2011 playoff run has been my favorite to watch all time.
That right there made dirk the greatest of all time
@@k-mark9187 the Mavs are forever in his debt.
Yep. I'm not even particularly a Dallas fan and you ain't lying. Dirk was on another level.
@@gutenbird 💯
It's tied for me with Cleveland being down 0-3 and coming back.
Dirk worked on his game, put in the work, stayed loyal, had faith in his teammates and he embarrassed LeBum, Wade and Bosh.
Especially since wade mocked dirk after 2006 finals when wade had shaq and zo, two bigs, to give heat big advantage. In 2007 dirk and mavs had great regular season but went down in first round. So great for dirk and co to embarrass heavy favorites wade and lebron in 2011! Just as satisfying for me was the last game blowout of lakers by mavs in earlier round playoff. Kobe got blown out in so many win or go home games! Dirk and Mavs embarrassed lebron, wade and kobe in 2011!
@@IanPunterPlus the referees. I will, til my last breath, feel that the 2006 playoffs werr fixed by David Stern.
Why hating on LeBron to make your point ??
Dirk is great player
But I don’t get this hate
Dirk was playing plumbers. Only reason why he won.
Not stern. The ref who got indited. Unfortunately history only remembers the victors. Around 2008 the narrative switched fromcthe mavs being robbed to the dwade goat. Thats why the mavs told cuban to be quiet in 2011
I remember watching that series back home in Würzburg. Middle of the night. Car parades started all across the city. When Dirk came back he got the key to the city and a huge welcome in our unesco world heritage palace. The whole city was there to cheer him on. Magic.
Damn as german I remember watching that final game. it was like 5 am and the sun was rising up when dirk finally won his ring. I cried so hard.
same, it was magical!
Das war wirklich der wahre positive Wahnsinn, draussen wurde es langsam hell und ich erinnere mich noch wie die Vögel anfingen zu zwitschern. Und als Dirk dann direkt nach dem Sieg in die Katakomben ging, um das kurz alles zu verarbeiten und dann wieder raus kam. Mein Gott das war für mich 'ne absolute Gefühlsexplosion - wieviel Stolz, Demut und Glückseligkeit ich in dem Moment für diesen Mann gefühlt habe. ❤
Damn, as an actual German, we do not claim any male criers. Crying as a man is ok for one of two reasons:
Your mums funeral.
Your daughter’s wedding.
Dankeschön
@@KiNgSaRcAsMoNe man, you must be a real man then, and im not cause i can handle and show my emotions without thinking of myself: im a loser. must be tough for losers like you
@@KiNgSaRcAsMoNe as an actual german you do not speak for me.
Now Germany is the World Champion in Basketball.
And Dirk was one of the main reasons Basketball got there how it stands now in my country.
We are what? How tf did that happen? 😁
@@fraskf6765 Sehr gutes zusammenspiel im team und denis schröder goat performance
@@fraskf6765wir haben die USA im Halbfinale der FIBA Weltmeisterschaft 2023 111-113 besiegt und den Titel gegen Serbien 83-77 geholt.
And his biggest accomplishment imo is not even that 2011 playoff and finals run but his last season when almost, if not every away team, paid tribute to him and fans of the opponents even clapped and had tears in their eyes.
For me, Doc Rivers calling a timeout to laud Nowitzki speaks to the amount of respect he ended his career with.
2:30 the self proclaim GOAT mocking his opponent but got humbled.. 😂
Now Wades son taking dih from the back
And they won 2 peat after that year 🤷🏻♀️
@@KangYuna0008 But they choke so hard they got a super team and all in thier prime but still lost
The critics used Dirk's honesty against him. Plain and simple. They never saw a bigger punching bag, especially when the results weren't going in the Mav's favour. Sad for them, the punching bag did fight back.
As a fellow German to me he was already a legend for simply making it to the NBA. Unheard of befor him. And to finally lead his team to victory in the finals. Is history in the making!! A true master of his craft. With love in his heart! Cudos
well not that unheard of, remember the great Detlef Schrempf
2011 i was Studying in Würzburg when they Won the NBA and Dirk came back to his City to Celebrate at the "Residenz" in Würzburg, it was so Amazing I will never forget this.
All the clickbait titles with unathletic Dirk in the title. The guy might not look like LeBrown or Jordan, but he is still a freak of nature. Strong enough for the game, light enough to be fast and endure long games. He might appear soft as he is humble and respectfull. But don't get fooled by this.
ppl just dont understand what kind of freak of nature you have to be to get a good amount of muscles and endurance when youre 2.13m tall, Im surprised he can still walk, my knees wouldve given up half the way
Calling almost any pro athlete in the NBA unathletic is stupid as hell.
Dirk has been there playing in the era of tough legends, you can not just mock a veteran player like that, besides him and Steve Nash are ace players of Mavericks, they are so fun to watch.
One of the greatest moments for german sportsmanship. What makes it special is that Dirk is so a humble and kind-hearted person, a Kid from little Braunschweig with a big dream, fighting against all odds. One of the sports moments i will never forget. Thanx Dirk! Germany loves U
Braunschweig, das ist Dennis! Dirk = Würzburg
@@j.e.4610stimmt, hat aber der eine Typ von der NBA im Video dann falsch gesagt🤔
@@spulwasserDer hat Würzburg gesagt, aber mit so heftigem Akzent, dass es fast wie Braunschweig klang. 😅
@@smirbelbirbel stimmt...wth wieso habe ich erst Braunschweig verstanden?😂
German and can confirm, you better not talk shit about Dirk. You only ever see him when he does another insurance commercial and that's it. The man is just doing his thing, in his lane, thriving.
Nowitzki was extremely athletic, well-conditioned, ran like a horse, was agile and nimble, great legs and upper body strength, and slow-twitch muscles.
As far as I my knowledge of Dirk goes, he should be a role model for every modern athlete on and off the field!
European players do, that’s why American players can’t keep up with them anymore.
@@uranusjrlol no one will ever come close to us
@@ricardofonseca1537 The last 6 NBA MVP's are non US Players. And in International Competition the National Team didn't looked that good the last years in the World Cup. Yeah Team USA wins the olympic games every time. But especially the european Baketball is getting better. That's because the european Style of Basketball is Team foccused and creating opportunities by passing the Ball. The US Style is more around individual Plays
@@ricardofonseca1537America won by 2 points against France in the Olympics because of Curry's Hail Mary shot, same against Serbia 🤦
I agree. Growing up in his former hometown, there was always coverage on his career: Always hard-working, respectful, humble, grateful, and down-to-earth. There is a story that whenever at home, he'd ask his parents for some pocket money because he didn't have any. (While his background is definitely German, I've seen him develop and thrive in the US. So there were people who supported and encouraged him, believing in him, building his convidence. I think that's why he still lives in the US and will be forever deeply connected to the country.)
I’m a Lakers fan. Mavs sweeping my Lakers was heart wrenching. Now that it’s been more than a decade. Hats off to those guys 🫡🫡. Especially Dirk!
he wasn't unathletic at all, especially when he was younger and his knees weren't injured yet. he moved well for a guy standing 2.11m tall.
Unathletic compared to Americans that stand 7 *feet* tall
2,13
I don't follow the NBA but what I've seen from Dirk in interviews, especially those offside the pitch has impressed me. There are many superstars in sports history, but only a few that seem to be genuinely down to earth nice guys and he is one of them. I'm very happy that he was able to finish his awesome career with a huge win.
Jason Terry’s tattoo of the trophy before the season started is wild.
This is potent stuff, this is going to have huge legs to the rest of this day in the next couple of days.
I remember going to a basketball game as a teenager (german league).
At halftime we were allowed to go on to the court, dribble around and throw some hoops.
A ball came rolling to me, I picked it up, threw it and it went in, ... from half court.
It was lucky obviously, but it was kind of cool.
As my friends cheered and patted me on my back someone handed me the ball and said "nice shot".
I'm 6'2, and as I reached for the ball I'm staring at some guys chest.
As I looked up it was Nowitzki with a big smile.
Me and my friends were stunned and speechless.
What a memory.
Danke Dirk. ✌️
Never forget watching the run with lacking internet connection knowing i have to go to work 2h later...greetings from Germany
He started the revolution of NBA.. bigmen shooting 3 points and long 2
How he carried Germany to the Euro 2005 finals in Belgrade - to me, that showed Dirk the unicorn.
I don't know why people love to say anyone white is not athletic. He was definitely athletic for being 7 foot tall.
I think only very few people get to feel what Dirk felt when he finally won the title. Seeing him and his coach overwhelmed with emotion is probably my favorite sports moment of all time.
The 5 year period after losing the first finals were the most torturing. Capped it with a championship against a superteam as well as it’s also the team to beat them back in 2006 is the cream of the crop! The best of the best finals win ever!
Germany right now are the men's FIBA World Champions and in the summer became the women's 3x3 Olympic champions. Both of those titles are unthinkable had it not been for Dirk Nowitzki who generations of German players have strived and are striving to emulate. He has single-handedly changed German basketball completely. That makes him one of the most influential players in history, IMO. And he did it all while being just a solid, decent and grounded guy.
Dirk is from my hometown called Würzburg. He onece visited my kindergarden and he was so big erveryone was amazed.
Lived in North Dallas at the time. EVERYONE was tuned in for this series and I'm sure everyone remembers it. Legendary.
I am a german - and so of course - he is the greatest!
And as a person - of course - I like is character.
And as a former basketball playing guy - he is a great teammate - he makes his team better.
And in terms of entertaiment - 2011 was the greatest finalrun - with that history (2006), comeback and this old vs prime - outstanding.
the greatest german player.
A personality you can just be proud of being German yourself or knowing him personally. Thank you Dirk. Sports need more men like you
I was living next to his grandma and as kids we went over and she gave us all signed autograph cards. Absolute best day as a child. ❤
0:46 to be fair, the calls the refs made back then were absolutely wild. The Mavs were pretty much robbed of their title.
That so-called Super Team defeated by Mavs and Spurs in the Finals. What a bunch of clowns
That Mavs team was a classic. They were the over the hill gang. A group of top players past their prime. This was their last shot at greatness. And they did it with great style!!
As a German, around the age of Dirk, I'm not surprised he struggled quite a bit. In the 90s Basketball was actually kinda big in Germany, so for a German kid to make it all the way to the US, to play in the actual NBA, was a _huge_ dream for a lot of German kids back then.
A bit like the sports version of being an actor and making it to Hollywood, and at such a young age having such huge expectationg put on your shoulders, in addition to his own, probably wasn't easy and resulted in a lot of pressure.
Tho it ultimately made for a really good comeback story with a lot of hearth, and Dirk being such a humble guy made it all the more fitting and rewarding.
Ein grossartiger Sportler ohne Starallüren..alles Gute Dirk
genau das.....jemand der Profi durch und durch ist und auch immer treu geblieben ist
Always kinda funny when statistics about international players vs US players in the 90s or 80s get broad up.
Americans don't understand how niche BB is in most of the world even today after growing in popularity
who's here after the Doncic trade
I remember that part at 0:15 when Chris Bosh led the Raptors to the NBA finals. Was such a good memory, will never forget.
2:26 when they cough, they were actually choking guys
lol...lost respect for these guys right there...no class
Solid video, but you left out some very interesting bits: The "we believe" Warriors were coached by Don Nelson, who knew Dirk's game inside out. His game plan was excellent and Avery Johnson did not have any adjustments. On top of that, in that summer, Dirk's girlfriend at that time turned out to be a marriage-impostor. Another aspect worth mentioning would be Dirk's whacky mentor Holger. Not sure whether it's been translated into English, but I highly recommend Pletzinger's book "The Great Nowitzki".
Way to buy in to the idiot stereotypes.
White guy = unathletic but succeeds becauae of "hard work, intelligence and toughness"
Black guy = athletic, not intelligent, flashy, diva, gets by on talent alone.
Dirk was faaaar from unathletic. Stop the nonsense
The most humiliating NBA Finals because the Superteam created by LeCheat Code James was defeated 😂 nakakahiya talaga sila.
Staying with one team is also an old German character feat. Old school workers in Germany also stayed at the same company for their whole live.
Oh hey es ist der Typ aus der Bank-Werbung.
That's why he is my Greatest Basketball Player Of All Time. No other words can say, period.
Dirk changed the big man play in the NBA a big man that can shoot outside and inside…1 vs big 3…💪💪💪🙌🙌🙌
that mavs team is solid tho . thats why when half of them leave in 2012. mavs got swept by okc.
If that's unathletic just pronounce me dead.
To me, the criticism that he was "too soft" rings true. I think he never was narcissistic enough to be a great leader. And he let events off the court impact his game. But having said that: what a career, the things he achieved while being soft, should count double!
7:43 "in two thousand and run"
19:56 After watching this video, my feelings regarding the recent Luka Dončić trade just turned for the worse even more
I came here to renew my faith in Dallas Mavericks. I love Dirk with all my heart and see Mavs trading Luka was a shock. I hope someday I can feel the same emotions I felt while Dirk was playing, thanks for this video ♥
Don Nelson is a smart guy for protecting young Dirk from other teams. 😊✌😊
I love how jason kid isnt even mentioned in this😂
It doesn't matter if you fall down, it's whether you get back up.
- Michael Jordan
When he said that the european guy is german my eyes light up because I am german and know that german sports enthusiasts take their sport expensively serious despite not always being the best.
Saying that Bosh could single handedly lead any franchise to the finals after he didn't do it once with the raptors is CRAZY.
I was 9 years old and saw this final game. That's where I begin love to watch/play the basketball because of him. Thanks Dirk!
Würzburg here. My regards at all. Saw him here at home so often when he start his career. It was an honor for me. Few people trained so much on their throwing.
I am not the slightest bit interested in basketball at all. And you made me watch your whole video and got me invested! Very good narrative! (I am german, so of cause I know Dirk anyway, because he is a star here.)
I love him so much he is geuinely a great guy. He was at my school once and we got to meet him in person and it was so fun to just talk with him for a little bit. Back then i was really into sports since i already swam in a contest. He gave some genuinely good life advice aswell which was too much for me to handle haha.
He's the german icon of "you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it"
You gotta love this man, but damn those ING Diba ads were a pain.
Diba, dibadooooo...
You're welcome *ahem*
One of the most clutch finals performances ever. Dirk was incredible that series.
11:15 The Mavs were not the first No.1 seed to lose to a No.8 seed. They are the third team to do so. The first was the Sonics in 1994 (No.8 Nuggets over No.1 Sonics, 3-2), then the Heat in 1999 (No.8 Knicks over No.1 Heat, 3-2).
I guess he meant in a 7 game series.
This dude's research skills are questionable
The reason European basketball was behind it's cause it wasn't ever mainstream before the 70-80s. Much like football is in the US. There was lots of European talented players before Dirk ... Petrovic, Divac, Sabonis, Gkalis etc.
Dude used "gear second" in real life.
I always liked him most for simply being a totally down-to-earth guy. Some may call that boring, but this is the kind of guy you can build upon.
Young Dirk was one of the most fluid 7 footers in the nba, and even in 2011 he's probably still in the upper half of athletes that tal
102°? That's hotter than cooking water.
hahaha no. Das ist Fahrenheit :) das sind knapp 39 Grad Celsisus
Don't be fooled. Dirk was literally boiling that night.
I am so embarrassed to know that they even allowed 3 MVP level players together in their PRIME that was insane. Imagine Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan. 😂
This musta taken 300 hrs to assemble & cut. What a great job, dude. 👌
Dirk is a very humble guy 😊
"Passing of the torch to the next great European player" - damn, you missed Dallas trading Luka away by weeks. 😄
I grew up in his hometown in Germany and so I know from friends he never really was "unathlethic".
i really dont care about basket ball but the quality of your video made me watch the whole thing. 🤟
still crazy to think about that he won against kobe, paul gasol, westbrook, kd, james harden, lebron, wade, and bosh in a single playoff run with flu in the finals. this has to be one of the most valuable championship
Dirk played the game the right way! one of the Greatest to ever ball the game!
I know nothing much about basketball (although i did play for my school team) but I loved this video - thanks for producing and posting - i have saved it under my playlist - INSPIRATION
Dirk is the reason why I felt in love with Mavs... He's the legend.. Almost like Romo in Cowboys 🤘🤘
Always a fan of this guy and of course my goat KB24 💪🏻🔥
Don Nelson has the Greatest eyes for GOATS
Barron Davis had one on the most squandered NBA careers. This guy was so good but was always sitting on the bench. Except that one time when he knocked the Mavs out the playoffs. Dirk's Championship is maybe my favorite of all time.
19:58 lol. Passed the torch. But the organisation threw it.
History repeats itself with Nikola Jokić
Passed torch to Luka and just today that flame was extinguished as Luka headed to Lakers
I can barely tell the difference between the basket and the ball but I love a good underdog story.
I can still hear Hubie Brown saying "and when he does that turn around fade, it's like the defender isn't even there."
Dirk should've 2 titles, if not Wade's 20FT per game in finals
“unathletic” srsly dude？
you seen a 7feet guy spin like him？
talking of him as "unathletic" is heresy
My farther played tennis with him when they were young always funny to remember how good he talks about him but idk just remember him happy when telling us
now hes a basketball legend.
every body knows him.