For many, Dirk Nowitzki is the biggest German sportsman of all time - and of course that doesn't mean his height of 2.13 metres. 'German Wunderkind' is just one of the many nicknames the Würzburg native has been given over the course of his unique career. At the age of 20, he was selected as the ninth player in the 1998 NBA draft and ended up with the Dallas Mavericks. 21 years later, he ended his active professional career - still in Dallas, but dozens of honours, records and an NBA title richer. Since winning the title in 2011, the first and only title ever for the Dallas Mavericks, Nowitzki has enjoyed legendary status. The Mavericks, led by owner Mark Cuban, honoured this in 2022 with their own statue directly in front of the stadium. The next accolade followed a year later: Nowitzki was the first German to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame - as the player with the sixth most points of all time. The fact that he is still considered down-to-earth and reserved despite his success and fame makes his personal brand seem even bigger. This is also appreciated by the few select brands with whom he only ever works on a long-term basis. There is now a 'lifetime partnership' with the Ing Banking Group (formerly Ing Diba), Nowitzki's best-known advertising co-operation. And the 'German wunderkind' has long since returned to the Mavericks as a special advisor.
