By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
As Eurohoops reported earlier, France is the big favorite to get the final phase of Eurobasket 2015, which will be co-hosted by four countries in the first phase. According to our sources, Germany has more than big chances to get one of the first phase groups for a number of reasons, which included the possible return of Dirk Nowitzki to the national team.
To be exact, the popularity of basketball in Germany is rising thanks to a healthy domestic league and the emergence of newly crowned champion Bayern Munich in the top Euroleague level. FIBA Europe would probably like to help this momentum and the German federation has one more very important card in their hands. If Germany finally gets a Eurobasket first phase group, then Dirk Nowitzki is expected to return for his farewell tour in the German national team.
It will be a historic moment for German basketball, since this will be the first time that Nowitzki will compete at home in a Eurobasket tournament. That would be probably the biggest sporting event for next year in Germany. On Monday, we will know the official decision of FIBA Europe.
UPDATE: Germany will host a group in Eurobasket 2015 and Mark Cuban, owner of Dallas Mavericks, confirmed to “SportBild” that he will let Nowitzki play for his national team.