After retiring his jersey number earlier this year, the Dallas Mavericks honored Dirk Nowitzki with a statue outside American Airlines Center.
Nowitzki, who won the NBA MVP in 2007 and NBA Finals MVP in 2011, is widely considered one of the most important and influential players in league history.
It was only a matter of time until the Mavericks, the only NBA team that he ever played for during his storied career, honored the 14-time All-Star with a statue commemorating his contributions to the team.
But it was an especially wonderful tribute to Nowitzki, who now officially serves as a special advisor for the Mavericks:
Mavs unveiled their statue for Dirk 👏 @swish41
(via @dallasmavs)pic.twitter.com/yOfCB07nQ8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 25, 2022
Nowitzki was known for his signature fadeaway jump shot, and that was immortalized with his statue outside of the arena in Dallas. The statue was inscribed with the motto “Loyalty Never Fades Away” (which is 21 letters, one for each season he spent with the team).
Even though it is the most obvious way to tip your hat to Nowitzki, Mark Cuban and the Mavericks totally knocked it out of the park. The details are phenomenal, even getting the exact shoes he wore while connecting on his one-legged fadeaway.
Just take a look at this photo and you will see why it immediately became one of the best statues in sports:
The Dirk Nowitzki statue is unveiled. pic.twitter.com/xPPlg0oxgg
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) December 25, 2022
