By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – Present in Ljubljana to celebrate Goran Dragic’s career ending in The Night of the Dragon, Dirk Nowitzki attended a panel with the Slovenian icon, Steve Nash, and agent Bill Duffy on the friendly game’s eve.
Following such a conversation, he stopped by to answer questions from the media. Asked about the potential pair of Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic playing together, he answered quickly. “I hope that would be in Dallas. I’m not sure if that will ever happen, but obviously both are two of the best players in the world. If now the best players in the world”, he first said.
“They both have a great relationship with each other, they respect each other and like each other genuinely. They spend time with each other. I’m not sure, but of course, we want Luka in Dallas as long as we can. Hopefully, he finishes his career there, but I love Jokic’s game, how he plays the game with passion, and the skill level as a big is unbelievable. They’re both incredible players”, Dirk Nowitzki continued.
The German icon was also asked about Alex Mumbru appointed as Germany’s head coach for the next three years. “We’ve had some foreign coaches in the past. Even in 1993 when we won EuroBasket with [Svetislav] Pesic as a coach, we go back. Gordie Herbert is a Canadian, and we won the World Cup with him. We’ve had some history with International coaches”, he opened.
“I know Alex [Mumbru] a little bit, I played against him a couple of times with the national team. I’m not sure how good of a coach he is, I’ve never seen him coach a game. I’m sure I will get to know him a little bit more over the next few years. But I heard he’s young, he’s energetic, he’s a player’s coach. And obviously, he knows the game, he’s been around”, Dirk Nowitzki continued on the Spanish coach.
The faith is that the former Valencia Basket’s leader could continue on the job done by his predecessor. “Hopefully, he can have a great impact and build on what Gordie Herbert was establishing for us the last couple of years. I wish him nothing but luck, hopefully he will have some amazing success with the team. Hopefully, they stay together and they can even grow more and have a great run”, he said.
The Swish is supporting the cause in Ljubljana
One of the most anticipated guests in an élite panel composed of Chris Bosh, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and more established basketball icons to celebrate Goran Dragic’s career, he will come back to the court. “We’re all happy to be here, supporting this cause and this [Goran Dragic] foundation. It’s love for basketball in this country, we’re happy to be here and hopefully, it will be a fun game tomorrow”, he said.
Dirk Nowitzki was also asked about the current German national team’s success. “I always tried to make the game bigger in Germany by playing the national team in the summer, being present at times. Always trying to help the game grow. If I was part of these guys’ story, that’s humbling and that’s amazing. But they obviously write their own story now”, he first mentioned.
“I never thought Germany would be World Champions or playing in the Semi-finals of the Olympic Games. It’s been incredible to see the growth of these guys, I’m sitting there like a proud father watching the guys play at such a high level. The future is bright for German basketball, let’s see what the future brings”, he continued speaking about his country’s basketball landscape.
Coming from the best-ever Olympic tournament, he was asked if he missed seeing Luka Doncic playing. “Of course”, he first reacted. “You want to see the best players in the world playing on the big stage. And the Olympic Games are a big stage. I followed the OQTs a little bit and in Greece, there was a tough tournament. It would have been tough to pull off”, he commented on Slovenia missing on Paris 2024.
Later on, he went in-depth into the whole Olympic experience. “It was great. Serbia played amazing, and Germany had a good run. France at home did really well and the atmosphere was incredible. Of course, the USA with Steph [Curry] making those shots in the final. Overall I though the level was great, the atmosphere in the gym was fantastic for men and women”, he continued.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images