Oklahoma City – He doesn’t aspire to have a nickname such as King James or Melo or The Answer or D-Wade. He’s simply Dirk, a six-time NBA all-star who doesn’t have an agent, doesn’t sport a tattoo and couldn’t care less about starring in a Nike commercial. His musical tastes run more toward David Hasselhoff than rap.
Dirk Nowitzki may not be the face of the NBA, but could well be its most valuable player.
What drives the 7-foot forward is winning, and doing everything possible to improve his skills and help the Dallas Mavericks win – while staying out of the spotlight.
“I’m a laid-back guy,” Nowitzki said after a late-season victory over the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets. “I don’t need all the publicity. I don’t need a million interviews and photo shoots.
“It’s not that important to me. … I love the sport. I love to play. And that’s where I put my time in: practicing and playing.”
Nowitzki finished the regular season with MVP-type statistics: a 24.6 scoring average, 8.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists, as the leader of the league’s best team. He was the only NBA player to shoot over 50 percent from the field (.502), over 90 percent from the free-throw line, (.904) and over 40 percent from 3-point range (.416).
Those look like MVP numbers to two-time reigning MVP Steve Nash of Phoenix, a former teammate in Dallas.
“He deserves it,” Nash said. “He’s having a fantastic year. He’s the best player in the league. I’d be really proud of him.”
In Germany, Nowitzki can’t go anywhere without being recognized. But in this country, he gets far less fanfare than most NBA superstars.
“He gets attention, but not enough attention,” Dallas all-star forward Josh Howard said. “These last two seasons, he’s put himself in a position to be MVP. Especially this year.”
Nowitzki, 28, ranks 11th in jersey sales at the NBA Store in New York and at NBAStore.com, according to the league’s latest figures.
“Maybe it’s because he’s not too flashy,” Mavericks forward Devean George said. “Not a high flier. But when he gets 30 points, we laugh.”
Dallas guard Greg Buckner is a former Nugget who knows the hoopla surrounding Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. Nowitzki’s popularity is nothing close in Dallas, Buckner said.
“I don’t think it will ever reach that A.I. status or Melo status,” Buckner said. “Right now we’re in a young hip-hop generation. (A.I and Melo) are not hip-hop, but they got the braids. Dirk? Sometimes he has the long hair, but he never has that hip-hop image.”
Said George: “Dirk just seems like more an everyday guy. People are excited to be around him and meet him. But when they are with Kobe (Bryant), I don’t think people see him as an everyday guy that you see at the grocery store. … They probably won’t see him at the grocery store or the movie theatre.
“Dirk? You might see him at the movie theater or the corner store. It just says that he’s just a German guy who is simple and has good patience and understanding.”
Nowitzki might not even be the most popular Mav. That distinction goes to owner Mark Cuban.
“He’s definitely out there,” Nowitzki said. “He loves the action. Ever since he took over, he took care of everything for the better. His personality is a lot different. He yells a lot at the refs. There’s a lot that comes with it. But you know we’re grateful for what he’s done for this organization.”
On the court, Nowitzki is a scoring machine who can float up a 3-pointer or post up another 7-footer. He might occasionally do a fist pump when he hits an important shot, but not much more.
But off the court, he’s known as a court jester. And unless you’re in the Mavericks’ inner circle, you won’t see it.
“He’s a funny guy,” Mavs coach Avery Johnson said. “But he knows when to get focused and serious. He keeps the team loose.”
Said Buckner: “A clown. A big kid. Always joking on people. He says what he wants, too, in a joking way not really knowing the American culture all the way and not really knowing that in American culture that can be a little mean, a little harsh. He doesn’t mean much by it, though.”
One reason Nowitzki has yet to get an overload of national attention might be the Mavericks’ collapse in the NBA Finals a year ago. Dallas was up 2-0 and had a 13-point lead with nearly six minutes remaining in Game 3, ready to all but close the series out. The Miami Heat not only came back to win that game, it won the next three in a shocking turnaround.
Nowitzki was criticized for not taking over and leading Dallas to the title. Johnson thought it was unfair.
“He’s one of the most criticized stars in the league,” Johnson said. “It’s all about what he can’t do. We celebrate so many other guys that haven’t really accomplished what this young man has accomplished.”
If Nowitzki wins the MVP award, and the Mavericks go on to win the NBA title, that criticism likely will end. While Nowitzki would love to win the MVP award, his goal is winning the championship.
As for the spotlight that comes with the MVP award, he will pass on that, too.
“More than anything when my career is done in 20 years, I can look back and say, ‘I was MVP,”‘ Nowitzki said of what the award would mean to him. “Now, I don’t put that much focus on it, especially after the tough Finals loss.
“If it happens, it will be all right. That’s awesome. That’s great. If it doesn’t, I’m not going to lose any sleep over it. I’m just going to focus on a great playoff run for the long run.”
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-954-1098 or mspears@denverpost.com.
