Dirk Nowitzki was named Wednesday by the NBA as a candidate eligible to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall
of Fame next summer.
Other candidates on that illustrious list include Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, Dwyane Wade and the 1976 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team.
“When you talk about that list it’s pretty special,” coach Jason Kidd. “There’s a lot of connections on that list, but when you talk about Dirk and the career that he’s had, it’s unbelievable. He changed the game.
“He’s a champion on and off the floor, and Dallas adopted him as their son. He means a lot to the city of Dallas, he means a lot of the Dallas Mavericks, but he means a lot to the game globally. When you talk about the European basketball players being able to come over and have success, Dirk’s a part of that process.”
Nowitzki was drafted with the No. 9 overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft, and wound up playing his entire 20-year career with the Mavs before retiring after the 2018-19 season. Kidd and Nowitzki were teammates from 2008-12, and both were instrumental in the Mavs capturing the 2011 NBA title.
“It was a great run in ’11,” Kidd said. “(Nowitzki) loved the stage, he loved the moment. We all knew where the ball was going, and he delivered.”
A 14-time All-Star and a sure-fire first ballot hall of famer, Nowitzki delivered to the tune of posting career averages of 20.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. That includes helping the Mavs close out the Miami Heat in six games in the ’11 NBA Finals.
“I think one of the things about Game 6 is he wanted it so bad that he didn’t shoot the ball extremely well in that first half,” Kidd said. “So we knew he was due in the second half to make a couple of shots, so we went right to him to start that second half and he delivered.
“When you look at being able to not have a good first half in Game 6, but to be able to stay the course and understand that we were going to come to him in the second half, he delivered for us and the city. So it was a special time.”
The Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will be announced during the NCAA Final Four in Houston on April 1. The enshrinement weekend will begin at the Mohegan Sun in Montville, CT, on Aug.11, with the enshrinement ceremony occurring on Aug. 12 in Springfield, MA.
FINNEY-SMITH OUT WITH INJURY: As his teammates were going through their shootaround on Wednesday morning at the Target Center, Dorian Finney-Smith was sitting on the bench wondering silently what was next for him.
Finney-Smith suffered a right adductor strain in Monday’s game against Minnesota and wasn’t able to play in the rematch here against the Timberwolves on Wednesday. The mere thought of missing a game runs counter to his DNA.
“It’s tough,” Finney-Smith said. “Everybody on the team is saying, ‘Dang, you don’t even look right sitting over here.’ I just look like somebody stole my dog.
“I don’t know what to do right now. I can’t talk trash to Luka (Doncic), because I don’t miss games. That’s me always talking my trash to him.”
Finney-Smith was injured in Monday’s game against the Timberwolves. But he believes the injury started during Saturday’s game in Cleveland.
“I just tried to block a shot (Monday) and I fell bad,” Finney-Smith said. “I also think I made a play in Cleveland. It happened near the end of the game when (Caris) LeVert took a charge — that’s when I first started feeling it.
“But me just being me, I kept playing through it.”
The warrior in Finney-Smith is why he kept playing through it. He only missed two games last season, so he’s not accustomed to being on the bench in street clothes.
“It’s just one of those weird injuries,” he said. “I don’t know if I didn’t stretch.
“I’ve been doing the same routine, so this is the first time I’ve been out because of an injury.”
And as painful as it is, sitting because of an injury is difficult for Finney-Smith to swallow.
“I’m feeling alright,” he said. “I’m used to competing, but they have to keep me off the court now. I’m trying to get it together mentally.”
KIDD FINED BY THE NBA: The NBA announced Wednesday that they fined coach Jason Kidd $25,000 “for coming onto the court to confront and direct inappropriate language toward a game official” during Monday’s 116-106 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kidd received two technical fouls and was ejected from Monday’s game with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
“They’re correct with the fine,” Kidd said prior to Wednesday’s game against Minnesota. “(The fine) goes to a charity. I’ll pay the fine. It’s not an issue.”
Point guard Luka Doncic also was issued a pair of technical fouls and was ejected from Monday’s game with two minutes left in the third quarter.
“We move forward,” Kidd said. “I don’t plan on coming onto the court any time soon, but it happens.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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