The Dirk Academy

The history

Two stories, one name

How a kid from Würzburg became the most loyal star in NBA history, and how a league took his name.

Dirk Nowitzki from behind, NOWITZKI 41 across his navy jersey

The Legend

Twenty-one seasons, one jersey, and a jumper nobody could block.

Seasons
21
Games
1,522
Points
31,560
All-Star picks
14
All-NBA teams
12
Championship
2011

Würzburg

1978 to 1998

  1. 1978

    Born in Würzburg

    Dirk Werner Nowitzki is born on June 19 in Würzburg, West Germany, into a family of athletes.

  2. 1994

    Enter Holger

    Holger Geschwindner, a former West German national team captain, starts coaching him. The unorthodox partnership lasts his entire career. Dirk also joins the senior team at DJK Würzburg.

  3. 1998

    The Hoop Summit

    Puts up 33 points and 14 rebounds against America's best high schoolers at the Nike Hoop Summit. NBA scouts take notice.

Dallas

1998 to 2011

  1. 1998

    Draft night

    Taken ninth overall by Milwaukee and traded to Dallas the same night. He never plays for another NBA team.

  2. 2002

    Germany's star

    Wins bronze and tournament MVP at the FIBA World Championship. A EuroBasket silver and another MVP follow in 2005.

  3. 2006

    So close

    Wins the Three-Point Contest, then leads Dallas to its first NBA Finals. Miami comes back from 0-2 to win in six.

  4. 2007

    Most Valuable

    Named NBA MVP after a 67-win season, the first European to win the award.

  5. 2008

    Flag bearer

    Carries Germany's flag into the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

  6. 2011

    The ring

    Dallas beats the Heat in six. Dirk plays through a torn tendon in his finger and a fever, and he is named Finals MVP.

Dirk Nowitzki watches a shot from beneath the shot clock

Legacy

2012 to 2023

  1. 2012

    The Academy

    One year after the title, a fantasy basketball league is founded in his name and holds its first draft.

    The founding

  2. 2017

    30,000

    Becomes the sixth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points, and the first born outside the United States.

  3. 2019

    Farewell

    Scores 30 in his final home game, then retires after 21 seasons in Dallas, the most any player has spent with one franchise.

  4. 2022

    Forever 41

    Dallas retires No. 41 in January. On Christmas Day, a statue of the one-legged fadeaway goes up outside American Airlines Center.

  5. 2023

    Springfield

    Enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Dirk Nowitzki in a blue Dallas jersey

The Founding

The Dirk Academy was founded in 2012, one year after the Mavericks won the title. Every league needs a patron saint. Ours won an MVP, a championship and a Finals MVP without ever changing jerseys.

Fourteen seasons later, the league still plays his way: stay loyal, win the margins and never fear a superteam.

Einbeinig. Unaufhaltsam. One-legged. Unstoppable.

Season by Season

Every Academy season, with its champion and what was happening in Dallas at the time.

The last seasons of No. 41

2012 to 2019

Season I

2012-13

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: Dirk misses the first two months after knee surgery. The Mavericks grow beards until they reach .500, then miss the playoffs for the first time since 2000.

Season II

2013-14

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: Monta Ellis arrives, and the eighth-seeded Mavericks push the eventual champion Spurs to seven games in the first round.

Season III

2014-15

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: Dirk passes Hakeem Olajuwon for the most points ever scored by a player born outside the United States.

Season IV

2015-16

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: Dirk climbs past Shaquille O'Neal into sixth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

Season V

2016-17

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: On March 7, 2017, Dirk becomes the sixth player ever to reach 30,000 points.

Season VI

2017-18

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: Season 20 with the Mavericks ties Kobe Bryant's record for the most seasons with one franchise.

Season VII

2018-19

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: A record 21st season. Luka Dončić wins Rookie of the Year, and Dirk scores 30 in his final home game.

After Dirk

2019 to 2025

Season VIII

2019-20

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: The first season without Dirk. The NBA pauses on March 11 and finishes in the Orlando bubble, and Luka makes All-NBA First Team.

Season IX

2020-21

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: A 72-game season. The Mavericks take the Clippers to seven games in the first round.

Season X

2021-22

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: No. 41 goes to the rafters on January 5. Dirk makes the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, and Dallas reaches the conference finals.

Season XI

2022-23

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: A statue of the one-legged fadeaway is unveiled on Christmas Day. In April, the Hall of Fame calls.

Season XII

2023-24

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: Dirk is enshrined in Springfield in August. Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving lead the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.

Season XIII

2024-25

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: Luka is traded to the Lakers in February. In May, the Mavericks win the draft lottery with 1.8% odds.

A new era

Since 2025

Season XIV

2025-26

ChampionTBD

In Dallas: Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick, begins his career with the Mavericks.

Season XV

2026-27

ChampionTo be decided

Next up: Tip-off is coming. The rafters have room for one more banner.

The Rafters

One banner for every Academy champion. Season XV is still unclaimed.

Names are stitched in as the commissioner confirms each champion.