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Nowitzki pulls out of world basketball championships

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki has opted out of playing for Germany in next month's world championships in Turkey in order to focus on preparing with his club for the new NBA season.

Published: 21 July 2010 12:00 CEST

Nowitzki pulls out of world basketball championships

Photo: DPA

“I have signed a new contract with the Dallas Mavericks,” said the 32-year-old forward in a statement published by the German basketball federation on Tuesday.

“We have a new team with new conditions and I want to set my focus on the next NBA season this summer.”

Nowitzki, a nine-time NBA All Star who first played for the Milwaukee Bucks back in 1998, has, however, made himself available for next year’s European championships to try to help Germany win a place in the 2012 Olympics in London.

“Next year, I will help the team reach our big goal to participate at the Olympics again,” said Nowitzki whose new four-year deal with the Mavericks, signed on Monday, is worth $80-million.

Germany are sure to miss the seven-foot tall (2.13m) Nowitski who led them to bronze in the 2002 world championships and silver in the 2005 European championships.

“I take Dirk’s decisions with mixed feelings”, said Germany head coach Dirk Bauermann. “We will of course miss Dirk in our squad.”

“You can’t replace a player like him. But we already know now that Dirk will be on board to fight for the tickets to the Olympic Games next year in Lithuania. I completely respect Dirk’s decision.”

Bauermann will now be concerned about whether fellow NBA star Chris Kamen of the Los Angeles Clippers follows suit.

On Monday, Russian international forward Andrei Kirilenko, who is playing with NBA side Utah Jazz, announced his decision to miss the world championships.

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Spain's greatest-ever basketball player Pau Gasol retires

Spanish player Pau Gasol Saez attends a press conference to announce his retirement, at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, on October 5, 2021. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)

Gasol, the older brother of recently-released Memphis Grizzlies centre Marc Gasol, won the competition in 2009 and 2010 during his time at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Two years ago, he suffered a foot injury which threatened to end his career earlier than planned.

“It is a difficult decision. As you can imagine, it is difficult, after so many years, but it is a considered decision, you have to change gear a little, and know how to enjoy it,” ex-centre Gasol told reporters at a press conference in Barcelona.

“I wanted to end up playing and enjoying myself, not on crutches and with operations,” he added.

He was a six-time NBA All-Star after being named the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2002 and won his two NBA crowns alongside Kobe Bryant.

Gasol emotionally paid tribute to former Lakers team-mate Bryant, who died in January 2020 in a helicopter crash.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 12: Pau Gasol #16 and Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate a play in the second quarter while taking on the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by KEVORK DJANSEZIAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) — Los Angeles Lakers stars Gasol and Bryant celebrate a play during the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. Photo: KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/AFP

“One last word for my friend Kobe Bryant. I would have really liked for him to be here, but it’s not possible,” Gasol said with tears in his eyes.

“Life isn’t fair some times. He taught me how to be a better player, a better leader, I always considered him as a big brother,” he added.

‘The Golden Kids’

For Spain, Gasol, who also had spells with the Grizzlies, the Chicago Bulls, the San Antonio Spurs and the Milwaukee Bucks, claimed two Olympic silver medals and a bronze as well as three EuroBasket crowns.

He was the leader of his country’s generation nicknamed ‘The Golden Kids’ as he led a side including his sibling as well as former Grizzlies shooting guard Juan Carlos Navarro and ex-Portland TrailBlazers small forward Rudy Fernandez to the 2006 FIBA World Cup.

(L-R) Pau Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, Marc Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro react as Spain wins the gold medal of the Eurobasket 2011 in Kaunas on September 18, 2011. Spain defeated France 98-85. AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI (Photo by JANEK SKARZYNSKI / AFP)

The Catalan, standing at 2.16m, is among the continent’s greatest players in the NBA along with German Dirk Nowitzki, Croatian Drazen Petrovic, the “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo and Frenchman Tony Parker, who he passed as EuroBasket’s leading scorer in 2017.

His last international appearance came at this summer’s Olympics in Tokyo during the quarter-final defeat to the USA.

He finished his club career with a Liga ACB title in Spain in June while with hometown club Barcelona but failed to clinch the EuroLeague.

“I am thankful to all. Having won one more league with Barca,” he said.

Gasol said he did not want to become a coach but indicated that his future still lay within the game he has graced for over 20 years. “Consultant or director… We’ll see. I’ve already started to speak with many NBA teams,” he said.

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