Dallas Mavericks Icon Dirk Nowitzki Celebrates as Germany Wins Gold in 3x3 Women's Basketball at Olympics

The greatest Maverick of all time was in attendance to see his country take home the gold in his sport

Aug 5, 2024; Paris, France; Germany Sonja Greinacher (14) celebrates with Dirk Nowitzki after Germany defeating Canada in the women’s 3x3 basketball semifinal during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at La Concorde 1. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports / Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Dirk Nowitzki revolutionized basketball in a way he likely never imagined. Beyond being able to shoot the ball as a big man, he was a huge part of globalizing the sport as teams realized they could win with European players. While he will point to his idol, Detlef Schrempf, Nowitzki was the first major catalyst of the European transfusion into the NBA.

His impact on basketball cultivated something he never got to accomplish, winning a gold medal for Germany in the Olympics. Germany took home this gold medal this year for Women's 3x3 Basketball, beating Spain 17-16 and Nowitzki was on hand to celebrate with the team.

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Nowitzki only ever played in the Olympics once, leading Germany to qualification in 2008, and he was chosen to be the flag bearer for his country for the Beijing Olympics. Germany finished 10th that year while he averaged 19.7 PPG.

Nowitzki was accompanied by fellow Hall of Famer Pau Gasol, who was there to root on Spain. Just like the 2011 playoffs though, Nowitzki's team gained the upper hand on his way to his first and only NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks, a run that remains cemented as one of the greatest championship runs in NBA history.

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