The long-awaited moment finally came at about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday. Dirk Nowitzki stood at midcourt in American Airlines Center. His three children collectively pushed a button that triggered the unveiling of a banner with Papa’s jersey No. 41.
The banner slowly rose toward the rafters, amid pyrotechnics, then confetti.
Forever 41. Forever immortalized. Dirk Nowitzki, the greatest Maverick.
Officially, 20,441 fans witnessed in person the Mavericks’ 99-82 upset of Golden State and the Nowitzki ceremony, though in future years, multitudes more likely will claim to have been in the arena.
The moment. pic.twitter.com/MRyVy7vOpS
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) January 6, 2022
In his speech before the banner raising, Nowitzki saved his last thank you for the final “pillar” that supported him for 21 seasons, all in Dallas: The fans.
“This pillar always gave me a warm welcome when I got here, and this pillar always wanted me to succeed and always pushed me and gave me the strength to work hard and motivated me.
“But what I appreciate most was this pillar supported me during the tough, tough playoff times and playoff losses. You know what, that pillar is you. Thank you.”
Joining Nowitzki on the court were his wife, Jessica, and their three children; Dirk’s mentor, Holger Geschwindner; NBA commissioner Adam Silver; Mavericks owner Mark Cuban; and seven members of the Mavericks’ 2011 NBA championship team.
“You guys know how to do jersey retirements here in Dallas,” Silver said. “I’ve been to a bunch of them, but I’ve never seen one like this.”
Then Silver turned toward Nowitzki.
“They love you here in Dallas, but they love you all over the world,” Silver said. “You’re a trendsetter in this league, 21 years with one team, never before been done in a league. A championship. A pioneer for international players.”
Nowitzki’s No. 41 joined in the rafters those of fellow Mavericks legends Derek Harper (No. 12), Rolando Blackman (No. 22) and Brad Davis (No. 15).
“You have set the standard for what it means to work and to win,” said Kidd, who served a double role in Wednesday’s ceremony, as Mavericks coach and a leader of the Mavericks’ title team.
“On behalf of the championship team, we want to say ‘Thank you,’” Kidd said. “‘Thank you for you being you.’”
Current Mavericks players quickly showered after the game and made it to the court in time to witness the ceremony, and the video montages. Video images of Nowitzki, a champion and an example on and off the court.
“Just an amazing night, a night you’ll never forget,” said Nowitzki’s heir apparent, 22-year-old Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic. “Obviously the game, the Warriors are one of the best teams in the world right now. And afterward was even more special. To be in the front row to see that, it was special.
“Especially that video, when they were winning the championship they won in 2011. It was amazing to see. That’s what I want to do one day. I hope it happens, but everything that happens for [Nowitzki], he deserves.”
It had been 32 months, 27 days since Nowitzki on April 9, 2019 stood on this same court and announced that the game he’d just played against Phoenix was his last in American Airlines Center.
The following night, in San Antonio, Nowitzki culminated his iconic career with a 20-point night against the Spurs, giving him 31,560 points, sixth-most in NBA history.
Nowitzki said what he has most missed about playing is “the stuff I always thought I would miss. And that’s, of course, the adrenaline of making a big shot, either silencing the crowd, or making a big shot at home and the crowds going wild.
“If I watch a game now when somebody is making a big play like that, I do get a little bit of a sense that I’m never going to have that feeling again in my life, so that hurts a little bit.”
That’s what made Wednesday night all the more special. Though there will be more honors in Nowitzki’s future, including the statue dedication and his certain induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame next year, Wednesday might have been the last time he will feel prolonged adulation in a packed arena.
“It was a great, great ceremony and I’ll always remember that – and my kids pushing the button,” Nowitzki said afterward. “Just lovely all around. I’ve got to thank the Mavs and Mark for putting it on. It was fantastic.”
Nowitzki said his children Malaika (8), Max (6) and Morris (5) recently have come to the realization that “Papa was half-way decent at something.”
Before the ceremony, the sellout crowd enjoyed an entertaining game between the homestanding Mavericks and the Warriors with their NBA-best 29-7 record.
Golden State is a marquee attraction at every NBA stop, but on this night the Warriors understood that they were part of the undercard. Coach Steve Kerr said it was meaningful to the Warriors organization to be here.
Even though Golden State has a game Thursday in New Orleans, the team remained in AAC to watch part of the Nowitzki ceremony.
“Just an incredible player, an incredible ambassador for the game, somebody the whole league respected,” Kerr said. “Greatest international player of all time.
“Beyond that, his humility, the way he carried himself, the fact that he played for one franchise, and it all sums up an incredibly special career.”
Indicators that Wednesday night was all about Nowitzki were everywhere in American Airlines Center, not that anyone in the building needed reminding.
Kidd arrived to his customary pregame media availability wearing a green Nowitzki jersey. Kerr wore a gold “41″ pin to his pregame availability and on his gray long-sleeve shirt throughout the game.
Many fans wore No. 41 jerseys and stood in lines to pose for photos with Nowitzki’s personal memorabilia that was sprinkled throughout the concourse.
Among the items were jerseys, basketballs and sneakers from some of Nowitzki’s milestone games, including when he reached 10,000, 25,000 and 30,000 points; rings from his 14 NBA All-Star berths; and his 2006-07 NBA Most Valuable Player trophy.
Nowitzki said it was the Mavericks’ idea to display the items, asking him “if I have some stuff lying around the house that would be interesting.”
Turns out he had at least 33 such items lying around, a veritable Dirksonian museum.
As the player who led the Mavericks to three of their four conference championship series, both of their NBA finals and their only championship, Nowitzki is beloved by everyone who has been part of the franchise’s four decades.
“When the Mavericks made the trade to acquire Dirk on draft night,” texted Norm Sonju, who in 1980 co-founded the Mavericks with Don Carter, “Don called me at home in New York, saying that ‘he’s like Larry Bird.’”
Carter died in 2018. Sonju said “I admire and appreciate Dirk very much” for elevating the franchise.
Brad Davis was the first of four Mavericks to have his jersey retired, on Nov. 14, 1992. Davis said it was an honor to be in the building Wednesday night.
“Dirk took this franchise to another level, on and off the court,” Davis said. “He just really stands for what the Dallas Mavericks are all about.”
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