By Stathis Trapezanlidis / info@eurohoops.net
Dirk Nowitzki said goodbye to the crowd in Berlin, but when the chance of Germany organising a pre-Olympics tournament next summer was mentioned, he started… thinking about it.
Dirk was cheered, he was moved, he cried, he said goodbye to the German fans, but he… marked his goodbye with an asterisk. “I thought this was going to be my last appearance. But I was told that there is a chance we might get a wildcard for the pre-Olympics tournament. We have to wait and see if we get together as a national team once again next summer. For me, in any case, this was the end. It was very emotional. I am very tired, I left everything I had on that court. We didn’t make it and I’m really disappointed.”
How does he evaluate his own presence in the EuroBasket? “Before the tournament had began I had said that it was very difficult for me, at 37, to play five games in six days, and that if the tournament hadn’t taken place in Germany I wouldn’t have played. But, since it was held in Berlin, in front of the same fans who have been cheering me on my whole life, this was a way for me to thank them. I’m grateful for their support in these games too.”
Dirk Nowitzki did comment on his last experience in a EuroBasket: “I apologise to the people. I didn’t play as well as I should have in this tournament, like the people were expecting me to. All those moments I experienced after the game were beautiful. I had so many strong emotions. It was a fantastic moment that I’ll remember forever.”