Dirk Nowitzki is an all-time great. If for some reason his resume doesn’t prove that to you — 8th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, 13-time All-Star, NBA MVP, Finals MVP, NBA Champion — then perhaps his personality will. Dirk is beloved in Texas — and throughout all of the country, really — for his goofy attitude, silly self-awareness, and wonderful ability to contribute some of the best quips this side of Steven Adams.. He’s such a quote machine, in fact, that The Dailas Morning News recently compiled all of the German’s best one-liners.
There are really too many highlights to count, but here are some of the best Dirk quotes ever:
- Dirk on staying in Utah before a playoff game: “Utah is a bad city.”
- Dirk on his fashion sense: “My crocs game is strong.”
- Dirk on Steve Nash: “We try to keep in touch as much as we can. We don’t really talk hoops much. I wished him the best when he signed with LA. I said, ‘Have a great year and I hope you lose to the Mavs.’ But it didn’t happen.”
- Dirk on his signature one-legged fadeaway jumper: “I came up with my own ‘Dream Shake’ I guess. The white version.”
- Dirk on his famous block against Jeff Withey last season: ;”It helped that it was a white guy. Otherwise it probably wouldn’t have happened.”
- Dirk on tanking: “Tanking is just not part of my DNA, not the way I’m wired. I want to win, I want to compete.”
- Dirk on his diet during the offseason: “So this month, I’ve been on a tear. I’ve gained almost 10 pounds. But it should be good for my baseball swing. I think I’m gonna lay a little more weight behind it and maybe I’ll get it out of the infield.”
- Dirk on Mark Cuban calling Russell Westbrook “not a superstar“: “I’d take him.”
- Dirk on Zaza Pachulia: “You are my guy but your head weighs 500 pounds.”
There are a ton more including Dirk’s thoughts on Kobe Bryant’s retirement, his relationship with Mark Cuban, and how he felt when he won the championship in 2011.
You can find the complete collection over at The Dallas Morning News.
