Retired Number #41 Dirk Nowitzki
The German wonder who redefined the power forward and led Dallas to immortality.
Number 41 belongs to Dirk Nowitzki, the German-born forward who became the undisputed face of the Dallas Mavericks for two decades. His jersey was officially retired by the franchise in a ceremony during the 2019-2020 season, cementing his status as the greatest player in team history. As the only player to ever play his entire NBA career with one team while winning a championship, Nowitzki's number represents loyalty, longevity, and the pinnacle of European adaptation to American basketball.
- Role
- Small Forward / Power Forward
- Affiliation
- Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019)
- Status
- Retired Number #41
- Championships
- 1 (2011 NBA Finals)
- MVP Award
- 2007 NBA Most Valuable Player
- All-Star Selections
- 14
Lore & Background
The culmination of his journey occurred in the 2011 NBA Finals against the heavily favored Miami Heat 'Big Three' of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Nowitzki's leadership guided the underdog Mavericks to a historic four-game sweep, securing the franchise's first-ever Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. His performance throughout his tenure earned him 14 All-Star selections and the 2007 NBA MVP award, making him the first European-born player to win the league's most prestigious individual honor.
In Their Own Story
The air inside the American Airlines Center is thick with anticipation as the lights dim on a Friday night in October. The crowd falls into a hushed reverence as the broadcast cuts to a tribute video of a tall German shooting a jumper from the elbow, his left leg extending like a tripod for balance. When the ceremony begins, a lone figure in a white suit walks onto the hardwood, not to play, but to watch his legacy ascend. As the number 41 is hoisted into the rafters, joining the few legends before him, a collective roar erupts from the fans—a sound of gratitude for the man who never left.
Reader's Guide
In 2007, Dirk Nowitzki was named the NBA Most Valuable Player, leading the Mavericks to the best record in the league and becoming the first non-American born player to win the award. This achievement highlighted his dominance as a scorer and leader before the championship run. The pinnacle of his career arrived in 2011 when he led the Dallas Mavericks to their first NBA Championship by sweeping the Miami Heat in the Finals. Nowitzki's clutch shooting, particularly in Game 5 against LeBron James, is widely considered one of the greatest performances in Finals history. Throughout his 21-year career, Nowitzki accumulated numerous records including being the franchise leader in points, rebounds, and games played. His consistency earned him 14 All-Star selections and a spot on multiple All-NBA teams, solidifying his place among the league's elite.
Did You Know?
- His unique 'one-legged fadeaway' shot was so effective that opponents often had to foul him intentionally just to stop the scoring.
- Nowitzki played 14 seasons in the NBA All-Star Game, more than any other European player in history.
More in Honours & Records
Elsewhere in the Dallas Mavericks universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record