'Loyalty Never Fades!' Mavs' Dirk Nowitzki to Hall of Fame Prep - 'The Last Big Thing'

Although Dirk Nowitzki will still be around the Dallas Mavericks for the rest of his life, his enshrinement at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is the crowning achievement for his basketball career – his 'last big thing.'

"Loyalty Never Fades Away" – Those are the words etched in stone at the bottom of Dirk Nowitzki's immortalizing statue that sits in front of the American Airlines Center. The memories of the Nowitzki's biggest career milestones will never fade away either – for him, nor his diehard fans – and he's preparing for one last emotional crowing achievement.

On August 12, the Dallas Mavericks legend will be enshrined at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. ... and DallasBasketball.com will be along for the ride.

Nowitzki has participated in a championship parade in 2011, belting an off-key, but endearing rendition of "We Are The Champions." He was showered with love and praise during his final home game at AAC in 2019, having a postgame ceremony with several other NBA legends attending. He received a street named after him in front of AAC with "Nowitzki Way." His worldwide recognizable No. 41 has retired to the AAC rafters, and he has his patented one-legged fadeaway standing 24-feet tall in front of the house he built.

Tears of joy and nostalgia came with all those unforgettable events, and they will surely come again as Nowitzki gives his Hall of Fame speech after being presented by Jason Kidd and Steve Nash. Nowitzki will still be around the Mavs for the rest of his life. It's not like his Hall of Fame ceremony will be the last time we see or hear from him. But ... it is the last 'big thing' for his basketball career, his crowning achievement, and we should all be prepared to soak in every moment and savor it.

How is it that one man who has already been celebrated so much in the last four years still hasn't been celebrated enough? No matter what honors are bestowed on Nowitzki, we always come away wanting more for him, even if he, being the selfless person he is, likely believes he's had more than enough recognition. That's how much he's meant to the game of basketball, the Mavericks and the Dallas community. More is never enough when it comes to celebrating a selfless superstar and champion.

Nowitzki's loyalty to the Mavs never faded away, and now, even though his Hall of Fame enshrinement is the official cap to his basketball career, the celebration of him as a person, as well as his impressive accomplishments as a player, will never fade away either. Mark Cuban and the Mavs' fan base will personally see to that.

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