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Watch: Mavs, NBA Legends Honor Dirk Nowitzki During Final Regular-Season Home Game
The Dallas Mavericks paid tribute to Dirk Nowitzki in several different ways during the team's final regular-season home game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
As Nowitzki arrived to the stadium for what will likely be his last time as a Maverick, hundreds of team and arena employees lined up to greet him ahead of the game.
Players usually drive through the tunnel, but Nowitzki took the time to step out of his car and walk it, giving many high fives and smiling for photos with the crowd.
Every seat at American Airlines Center was also decorated with a Dirk head and a commemorative shirt and ticket before tip off.
Nowitzki was then embraced by loud cheers during pregame warmups and his final introduction in front of a home crowd before the team played a tribute video titled "Uncle Dirk" in Nowitzki's honor.
The @AACenter erupts for @swish41 as he throws one down for pregame warm ups! #MFFL #DIRK! https://t.co/K1K0eNA4y6
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 10, 2019
🎥: @swish41 has not only made an impact on the court, but also in the community. Watch how Uncle Dirk has touched so many lives during the holidays over the last two decades. pic.twitter.com/yXeRIDOjgs
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 10, 2019
The night concluded with a special postgame ceremony. Nowitzki officially announced he was retiring following the season's end and was joined by Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Detlef Schrempf and Shawn Kemp, each of whom Nowitzki called his personal player influences.
Dirk officially announces he will retire at season's end pic.twitter.com/IE33N6Ei6O
— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) April 10, 2019
Nowitzki finished the game with a season-high 30 points.
The ninth pick in the 1998 NBA draft, Nowitzki spent 21 seasons with the Mavericks, leading the team to 15 playoff appearances and its first and only championship win in 2011.
Nowitzki is a 14-time All-Star and a 12-time All-NBA team member. He was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2007 and the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2011.
