Finding Dirk ...

Dirk Nowitzki speaks his peace and is very good with the media. He provides thoughful answers and is often accessible to press in two languages each and every day. At the 2006 NBA Finals, he would meet his main interview room obligations, then come over to a previously arranged spot in the arena to speak with media in his native German tongue.

He is a pleasure o work with and is somewhat typical for all of the international players that I have worked with over the years.

We took time to explain to the players what we had in mind and how it would work. We remained open to their suggestions and respected their schedule and position at each team. From Yao to Manu to Tony Parker to Nash to Duncan to Pau to Nene to Luc to Bargani to Sabonis, it helped build the NBA and helped our fans relate to the players and teams.

Here is what Dirk had to say today:

Nowitzki's MVP counts for little in homeland
July 29, 2007

ZOFINGEN, SWITZERLAND (TICKER) -- Dirk Nowitzki would love to think his NBA Most Valuable Player award could inspire a new generation of basketball players in Germany, but the Dallas Mavericks star admits the game faces an uphill battle in his homeland.

"My MVP title surely helped to make basketball more popular in Germany, and the same thing goes for the good results of our national team," he told Swiss newspaper Neue Luzerner Zeitung. "But the fact remains - Germany is and always will be a soccer nation."

Nowitzki is in Switzerland where he attended the Swiss All-Star Basketball Camp in Zofingen this week. However, his attentions are mostly focused on the EuroBasket in September.