Charlotte Hornets minority owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan, also known as MJ, reportedly praised Dallas Mavericks special advisor and legend Dirk Nowitzki before their final NBA matchup in the final months of the 2002-03 NBA season.
Jordan, now 61, retired from the NBA twice and mounted a comeback, but announced in November 2002 that he’d step away for good. He played for the Chicago Bulls from 1984-1993 and 1995-98 and the Washington Wizards from 2001-03. He was drafted third overall by the Bulls at the 1984 NBA Draft.
Nowitzki, now 46, was one of the many individuals Jordan has encountered throughout 15 seasons in the league. Nowitzki’s Mavericks visited Jordan’s Wizards and faced off for the last time, and as expected, “His Airness” praised the German basketball as a gesture of goodwill.
Jordan’s praise for Nowitzki wasn’t only an act of sportsmanship, but also a compliment towards the Wurzberg, West Germany, native. Read on for more details.
Michael Jordan’s Praise for Dirk Nowitzki
Michael Jordan praised Dirk Nowitzki before his final NBA matchup against him in 2003. Jordan and Nowitzki played in front of a packed crowd in Washington, D.C.
Jordan recalled to Spiegel Online, “Dirk (Nowitzki) is strong, he is intelligent. He knows how to play. It was a great challenge for me to play against him one more time.” Jordan’s recalling of Nowitzki was arguably short and sweet. The former later played his final NBA game on April 16, 2003, against the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Michael Jordan and Dirk Nowitzki’s Final Dance
Michael Jordan and Dirk Nowitzki’s final dance, aka the final game, took place on February 23, 2003.
The Dallas Mavericks brought a five-game winning streak to D.C., but they struggled to maintain their momentum against the MJ-led Washington Wizards at the time. The Mavericks scored a season-low 13 points in the first quarter. By halftime, the Wizards ran away, as “Dirty” only put up five points. Nowitzki reportedly insisted that his nerves were to blame for his questionable performance.
According to the Basketball Network, Nowitzki said, “It’s a big deal, of course. But when we’re all on the court, everyone is the same to me. It’s all about one thing: I want to win.”
Dirk Nowitzki Prevails Over Michael Jordan
Contrary to popular belief, Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks prevailed over Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards in their final NBA matchup in 2003. Nowitzki’s strong comeback and the Mavericks bench’s solid performance highlighted the second half while setting the tone of the game. Even though the Wizards fought back, the Mavericks won 106-101.
The Basketball Network reported that Jordan remarked, “I tried to neutralize him (Dirk Nowitzki) as much as possible, forcing him into plays I knew I could handle.”
Jordan’s remark was arguably short and sweet. Jordan fought hard on defense and led the Wizards like he did when he was in his prime, despite being in his early 40s. He reportedly gave Nowitzki a quick handshake after the game instead of a grand gesture.
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