The partnership between Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks is the stuff of legends. Nowitzki, who spent his entire 21-year career with the Mavericks, not only led them to their first-ever NBA championship but also became a beloved icon in Dallas. His legacy is so strong that there’s even a statue of him outside the American Airlines Center. Nowitzki’s love for Dallas runs deep, and he’s made the city his home for life.
Yet, there's a fascinating footnote in his story—one that could have seen him wearing a different jersey. Back in 1998, the Milwaukee Bucks drafted Nowitzki, but the team traded him to the Mavericks on draft night. It’s a “what if” that Bucks fans can’t help but ponder. What if Nowitzki had stayed in Milwaukee? According to Nowitzki himself, it’s an intriguing thought.
In a recent episode of “The Thanalysis Show,” hosted by former Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Nowitzki reflected on that pivotal draft night. “I think Milwaukee would have been great,” Nowitzki mused. Antetokounmpo pointed out that Nowitzki would have fit perfectly in Milwaukee, given the city's rich German heritage. Nowitzki, with a chuckle, agreed, saying, “A lot of bratwursts. I think Milwaukee would have been fun. Being in Dallas, I enjoyed my time. It’s my new home. I still live there. It ended up working out for me. But I think Milwaukee would have been fun.”
As the 1998 NBA Draft approached, the Milwaukee Bucks were eyeing a big man to boost their roster. Enter Robert "Tractor" Traylor. At over 280 pounds, Traylor was a formidable presence and a standout player from Michigan. The Bucks were determined to land him, and when they traded Nowitzki to the Mavericks, it was a move made with Traylor in mind. Larry Harris, then the Bucks’ director of scouting, had indicated that the deal was set before the draft even began, suggesting that Nowitzki’s stint in Milwaukee was never on the cards.
Nowitzki, at just 20 years old on draft night, wasn’t even sure he’d be playing in the NBA. “I didn’t go to the draft,” he told Antetokounmpo. “I was in Germany at the time. I wasn’t sure maybe I’ll play in Europe more. I never committed that I was going to play in the NBA. I didn’t think I was going to get drafted very high.” Despite his uncertainty, he was picked ninth overall by the Bucks, only to be swiftly traded to the Mavericks.
One or two days after the draft, Nowitzki had a life-changing encounter. Don Nelson, the Mavericks' head coach who had previously coached the Bucks in the 1980s, flew to Nowitzki’s hometown of Würzburg. “Hey, we want you,” Nelson told him, which led to Nowitzki heading to Dallas to meet stars like Steve Nash and Michael Finley. “I loved it,” Nowitzki recalls. “I’m going to do it.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Nowitzki’s career with the Mavericks was nothing short of extraordinary. He earned 14 NBA All-Star selections, 12 All-NBA honors, and was named the NBA MVP in 2007. His crowning achievement came in 2011 when he led the Mavericks to an NBA championship and was named Finals MVP. Nowitzki ranks sixth on the NBA's all-time scoring list and was a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. His career was capped off with his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, alongside Dwyane Wade, another NBA legend.
Meanwhile, Traylor’s NBA career took a different path. He played just two seasons with the Bucks and struggled to make a significant impact. Averaging 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds over his career, Traylor was out of the NBA by the end of the 2004-05 season. He continued to play internationally, taking stints in Turkey, Italy, Mexico, and Puerto Rico before his untimely death from a heart attack in 2011 at the age of 34.
Nowitzki’s career is also interwoven with his relationship with Jason Kidd, a key figure in his NBA journey. Kidd and Nowitzki won the 2011 NBA Championship together, famously defeating the Miami Heat in LeBron James' first season in South Beach. Their bond has remained strong over the years. After retiring from playing, Kidd transitioned into coaching, first with the Bucks from 2014 to 2018, and now with the Mavericks, where he has continued to find success. Just this past season, Kidd led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in his third year with the team.
Nowitzki had always seen potential in Kidd as a coach. “When we played together, you could already tell he was going to be a coach,” Nowitzki said. “The way he talked to the coaches, the way he analyzed film already as a player, this guy has the mind and IQ to be a coach. That was no surprise.” He praised Kidd’s ability to connect with players and earn their respect, a quality that has served him well throughout his coaching career.
Reflecting on Kidd’s time with the Bucks, Nowitzki acknowledged that Kidd’s early years as a coach were a learning experience. “I heard some of the stories from Milwaukee,” Nowitzki said. “I think he was a little… (The Bucks) were a young team at the time. He wanted control a little bit more.” Despite any early challenges, Kidd has grown into one of the league’s respected coaches, and his journey has been closely followed by Nowitzki and many others in the basketball world.
The story of Dirk Nowitzki and his career, including the “what if” of Milwaukee, is a testament to the twists and turns that make the NBA such a fascinating and unpredictable league. From a draft-night trade to becoming a Dallas legend, Nowitzki’s journey is one of perseverance, talent, and the magic of basketball.
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