WATCH: Longtime coach tears up after Nowitzki notches 30K points
You live for moments like this.
Dirk’s shooting coach Holger Geschwindner gets emotional during Dirk’s historic night.#ThisIsWhyWePlaypic.twitter.com/fwR2sAdpzn
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2017
Arguably the best shooting seven-footer the league has ever seen, Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki reached 30,000 career points against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
READ: Nowitzki joins 30,000 club against Lakers
The milestone, which he achieved through his patented one-legged fadeaway jumper, was witnessed by a sold-out crowd inside the American Airlines Center.
Among those in attendance was the German forward’s longtime shooting coach, mentor and friend, Holger Geschwindner, who was overcome by emotions after witnessing the amazing feat.
After the made basket, cameras panned over the 71-year-old former German National Team member who had visible tears of joy in his eyes.
The pair’s relationship, meanwhile, goes way back in 1994, when Geschwindner first discovered a lanky 15-year-old Nowitzki and offered to coach him.
According to the biography book Dirk Nowitzki: German Wunderkind, the former athlete subjected Nowitzki to unorthodox training methods—emphasizing shooting and passing exercises, while shunning away from weight training and tactical drills.
He even encouraged Dirk to play a musical instrument and read literature to make him a more complete personality.
Grateful Maverick
Dirk signs off from Dallas! #Dirk30K pic.twitter.com/3KT60PWVNc
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2017
Nowitzki, who’s entering the twilight of his basketball career at the age of 38, thanked everyone for their support throughout his illustrious playing days.
“Huge thanks to everyone, who has reached out. I’m humbled and overwhelmed. Honored to be part of the 30k club!” he wrote on Twitter along the hashtag #old. Khristian Ibarrola /ra
Huge thanks to everyone, who has reached out. I’m humbled and overwhelmed. Honored to be part of the 30k club! #old
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) March 8, 2017
