Years After Being Rejected Over Beer by Dirk Nowitzki, Billionaire Mark Cuban Sends Gentle Reminder to the World

Dirk Nowitzki is arguably the greatest international player to have ever played in the NBA. A one-team man all his life, Dirk spent 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, during which he won an NBA title and multiple individual accolades. The championship he won in 2011 is considered by many to be the toughest ring earned in the NBA. Leading his team to victories over the likes of Kobe’s LA Lakers, KD’s OKC and the Miami Heat’s Big Three, the German was truly a special talent.

Ranked 6th on the all-time scoring list, Dirk was a part of this year’s Hall of Fame class. In the build-up to his big day, the Dunking Deutschman received a special message. It was from the man who spent most of his career by his side – Mavs owner, Mark Cuban.

Billionaire owner sends love to Nowitzki before his special honor

On August 12, 2023, Dirk Nowitzki officially became a part of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The 7-foot German was drafted into the NBA in 1998. Over 21 seasons he became one of the most influential Europeans to have ever played the game. A tyrant during his day, the 14x all-star was recently celebrated by his Mavericks side. Even the owner Mark Cuban sent a gentler reminder to the world.

Notably, Cuban took over the Mavericks in 2000, while Dirk was still on his rookie contract. Cuban reportedly shelled out $285 million at the time. Today, after Nowitzki’s legendary career, the Dallas side is worth well over $3 billion.

The owner-player duo spent 19 seasons together, so of course the billionaire had to congratulate his former star. In a video message posted to X (formerly Twitter), billionaire Mark Cuban sent his congratulations to Dirk as he stated, “Dirty! Just wanted to say congratulations, I am so proud of you.”

Continuing to praise his former star for his special honor, the shark then sent a gentle reminder to the world. He said, “You have proved to the world that hard work does pay off and good guys can and do finish first.”?

Dirk Nowitzki once rejected Mark Cuban over beer

Mark Cuban is easily the most well-recognized owner in the NBA today. After all, his exploits in the television show ‘Shark Tank’ are infamous.

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The businessman is quite the character too. While he and Dirk formed a great partnership to deliver Dallas a championship, there was a point where the German star rejected the owner over beer.

In an interview with the Dallas Morning News, the billionaire shared a story of when he purchased the team and how he met Nowitzki in a bar.

Recounting the tale, the 65-year-old revealed, “I went out with some of my buddies the day before my buying the team was announced, and I saw Steve [Nash] and Dirk and offered to buy them a beer. And they graciously denied me.”

Having once helped a player bring his father home, it’s no surprise that Cuban wanted to buy his star a beer. With the Germann now a Hall of Famer could we see Mark finally fulfill his long-standing wish?

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