DALLAS – This was one to savor. This was one to toast.
Not from press row.
Instead, I waded into the waters of the sea of love that engulfed American Airlines Center and the man that stood above it all. This night belonged to Dirk Werner Nowitzki. And, in many ways, to all of us.
“This was my last home game,” Nowitzki announced to a true sellout crowd Tuesday night that just moments earlier had chanted “M-V-P” and “One more year.”
What everyone figured and everyone was sure of came to be as the Mavericks closed out their regular season home slate with a 120-109 drubbing of the Phoenix Suns. A career that lasted much longer than anyone could have expected and we could have deserved is ending.
Dirk summoned one last bucketful of magic from a well that’s just about run dry after 21 long and loyal years. The Tall Baller from the G poured in the Mavs’ first 10 points on his way to a season-best 30 in 32 minutes and 42 seconds of pure emotion, laughter and tears.
Dirk even summoned enough lift for one last dunk, his mouthguard smile showing through during an extended rim hang. The game seemed fun again for Dirk, but he admitted after the last meaningful game he’ll ever play in his hometown that his body just couldn’t take it any longer. He’s had enough of the poking and prodding and pills, finally settling on the idea that it’s over. Mentally, he could continue to play. Physically, it wasn’t gonna happen.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said in a smart blue suit, relaxed and leaning back in his chair at his last home postgame press conference. “It doesn’t make sense anymore.”
I’ve personally witnessed what’s got to be close to a thousand of Dirk’s games. Certainly not the most in these parts, but enough to understand.
As a Mavericks and NBA beat writer for more than half of this century, I had a ringside seat for more than half of Dirk’s career. A vantage point I’ll always treasure, and one I’ll never be able to relive.
I was there for rise of the Mavs and subsequent heartaches. I can’t fathom covering anyone better than Dirk, Steve Nash and Michael Finley. Dirty, Filthy and Nasty. Steve and Mike left, and somehow Dirk became better. Tougher. More determined.
I never forget Game 7 in San Antonio. Fifty points against the Suns. Collapse against Miami. Collapse against Golden State. An empty MVP ceremony. Hoisting that golden Larry O’Brien in Miami. Passing the greats on the scoring list climb.
41.21.1.
I had the opportunity to sit on press row again for Dirk’s finale in Big D, the celebration of a career as singular as his one-legged fadeaway. I chose to take this one in from the stands, letting myself be a fan again and getting lost in what all that means.
So many have celebrated Dirk this season, with spontaneous and scripted tributes popping up as Dirk took an unofficial victory lap around the league. I’ve read some amazing stories recently from writers I truly admire like Brad Townsend and Tim MacMahon and Marc Stein. Our very own Richie Whitt penned a compelling argument this week pegging Dirk as DFW’s all-time greatest athlete.
I’d have to agree.
As I’ve consumed these tales of Dirk, some new and others not, I couldn’t help but think of my favorite personal memories of Dirk. Though I wasn’t as close to Dirk as some of my media colleagues, especially in the years after the 2011 championship, he had a way to connect with just about everyone he came across.
I’ll remember Dirk rubbing the pregnant belly of my wife at a Christmas party. My daughter Julia is now playing high school basketball, so something must have rubbed off.
I remember him showing up at Toronto bar for my birthday and buying the table a round of drinks. Dirk doesn’t exactly party during the season.
I remember wanting to buy Dirk dinner on the road one season to thank him for being such a generous and genuine guy. Mavs media relations director Sarah Melton made it happen in Atlanta. When I tried to pick up the check, Dirk was having none of it and treated us all.
As the first beat writer for Mavs.com, I remember being caught in traffic once and being the last to board the team flight. “We held up the plane for Art,” Dirk sarcastically shouted as I made my way on.
I remember after another playoff disappointment, catching up with Dirk in the bowels of AAC and talking about his personal life. Ever guarded and private and having suffered a painful breakup of his own, Dirk discussed finding love again and his dream of becoming a father and starting a family.
I actually lost that recorder the next day and never wrote that story. Maybe it wasn’t my story to tell.
Tuesday night we witnessed the conclusion of his NBA story. Yes, there’s another game tonight in San Antonio, and Dirk promises to give it a go. If there is a fitting road finale, it’s in the Alamo City against the rival Spurs.
But Tuesday night was the true end of the road in Dallas, for fans across North Texas and stretching around the globe. The evening started with two of Dirk’s longest teammates – Devin Harris and J.J. Barea – saluting their old friend and featured an endless array of videoboard vignettes, equally touching and funny, taking us through his 21 years. Jason Terry and Shawn Marion were among the former teammates in the house, as were Michael Young, Jason Garrett and several Cowboys.
Dirk himself broke down in the second quarter, hunched over as his eyes welled up with tears, during an “Uncle Dirk” segment on his annual tradition of visiting Children’s Medical Center Dallas. The piece was narrated by Townsend. Dirk’s yoga-inspired breathing couldn’t stave off the emotion. “Brad got me,” Dirk admitted.
The postgame bash began with five of Dirk’s basketball heroes paying their respects in the most magnificent celebration for an active player that I can imagine. Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Shawn Kemp and Detlef Schrempf each took the mic and told us what we already knew. Charles called Dirk the “nicest man ever.” “The game is better because of you,” Larry Legend shared.
Rick Carlisle, daughter in tow, shared messages from Dirk’s other two coaches, Don Nelson and Avery Johnson, and added, “This year might be one of your greatest triumphs.” A teary-eyed Mark Cuban reiterated his love for No. 41 and promised the “biggest, most bad-ass statue ever.”
No one deserves it more. Dirk said after the game that the retirement decision only came in the last couple of days. He plans to stay around the Mavs – Cuban also promised a lifetime job – and Dallas will always be home. Now it’s time to clear his head, travel and be with his family.
Dirk also enjoyed a beer with Charles and the guys before his final shower before his finale home presser. I’d like to think there was a toast to his everlasting greatness and what he meant to all of us.
“I had a heck of a time,” Dirk Werner Nowitzki said.
We did, too.
