When Clippers Coach Had a Surprise Tribute to Mavericks Legend Dirk Nowitzki

Last year, Dirk Nowitzki retired as one of the most respected stars in the NBA. He was into the 21st and the final season in his NBA career last season. When Nowitzki’s Mavericks played the Los Angeles Clippers in February last year, Clippers coach Doc Rivers decided to pay tribute to a legendary career.

With just a few seconds to play, Rivers called for a timeout and went to the public announcer’s mic to pay tribute to Nowitzki.

“It was sweet. I’m really appreciative,” Nowitzki said of the warm reception after the game (via ESPN). “At first, I was like, ‘Why is Doc calling a timeout? What’s he doing with [9.4] seconds left? What’s he up to?’ Then he grabbed the mic. I didn’t really understand much, but that was really humbling. That was an emotional moment.”

An unplanned tribute to Dirk Nowitzki from Doc Rivers

Rivers later admitted it was not something he had planned. “That was just, we had a lead and I had a timeout,” Rivers said. “Honestly, I didn’t plan it. I just felt like he deserved that.”

Nowitzki had indeed done enough in his NBA career to deserve that. Many often regard him as the greatest European player to have played in the NBA. He was, after all, the first European player to start in an All-Star Game and the first European player to receive the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Nowitzki is also the highest-scoring foreign-born player in NBA history.

Incredibly, Nowitzki’s career spanned 21 years, and he played only for the Mavericks in his whole career- the most number of seasons for a single team. He beat multiple franchise records over his career and has led them to their first NBA title in 2011.

The gesture from Doc Rivers for Nowitzki impressed Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle.

“It was one of the greatest things I’ve seen,” he said. “I know there will be more moments similar to that, but this was an original. I’ve never seen something like this.”