Training Camp Report: Day 5 - Dirk preps for return to Germany
Training Camp Report: Day 5 - Dirk preps for return to Germany
DALLAS – As much as he’d rather not make his team’s week-long European exhibition tour solely about him, it’s hard to deny that the next seven days will in fact serve as a tribute to the illustrious career of 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.
Traveling back to his native country of Germany before also stopping in Spain, Nowitzki will certainly receive the rock star treatment when he leads the Dallas Mavericks to take on ALBA Berlin in a preseason test on Saturday. And although donning the Mavericks’ uniform in front of family and friends will be a dream come true, the 7-footer and Würzburg native is also keeping the growth of his new-look team in mind and at the top of his priority list.
“I was always looking forward to going to Germany, now I see my schedule and I wonder, ‘What am I wishing for?’ No, I mean, it’s gonna be busy but also fun,” Nowitzki said before boarding the team flight to Berlin. “I’ve got some family there, some friends, the atmosphere is going to be great in that gym and hopefully we’ll play a great game. I mean, for us as a team, we’ve gotta look at this as a way to get better and bond some more. I think we’ve got tons of new people, so (we’ll be able to) get to know each other better on the road. It’s great. They’ll be some functions and stuff, some time on the buses and in gyms, and it’s good to bond. We’re on the plane forever, so I think it’s a good time to get to know each other better and make a step in the right direction.”
He added: “I mean, it’s finally a dream come true. They’ve been starting this Euro game for a long time and we were never a part of it. So, I’m glad it worked out this time. I think Berlin is a great city and I think we’re gonna enjoy it. And Barcelona is fun as well, so I think it’s a good trip. It’s gonna be a little stressful with the time change and we only have a week before we fly back and the schedule is gonna be busy, but we’re gonna make the most out of it. … I don’t really look at it that way. Obviously it’s nice that I’m on the Mavs and it worked out that way, but I don’t really look at it that way that this is my trip. This is the Mavericks’ time to go over there.”
But as much as he wants to make this trip and experience about the team, returning to his homeland will leave Nowitzki with a full plate instantly upon arrival.
While trying to build chemistry with his new teammates, Nowitzki will run through a gauntlet of events. Still, with the Mavs set to face a team featuring a few of Nowitzki’s German National Team comrades and plenty of talent, his focus remains on the court.
“I look forward to a great trip and winning some new fans over in Germany and Barcelona, hopefully with some good performances,” Nowitzki foreshadowed. “But we’ve gotta get better as a team. I think we’ve had a good start to camp here. We have some fun-looking young guys that are athletic; they’re fun to watch. So, hopefully we can take another step up this week. … I think [the players for ALBA Berlin and FC Barcelona] are professionals and they want to obviously go out with a bang and maybe get a win against an NBA team. I think it happened already a couple times, and we don’t obviously want to let it happen.”
“Every day in the NBA is a potential building experience, so we’re looking to maximize this trip,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle added. “It’s well-spaced, it’s well-planned out, it’s two great cities and it’s gonna be two very good teams. And, you know, if we’re not ready to play, we’ll get beat. Simple as that.”
