I really didn't have a great touch there the entire night, they didn't leave me much. When I was open, I didn't really have a great touch, but down the stretch I had to get going against a tough-playing, hard-playing team. We were able to get some stops.

Dirk Nowitzki

Categorized in : Sports

If you do the best you can, you have nothing to be ashamed of. A defeat is not a disgrace.

Dirk Nowitzki

disgrace defeat ashamed

I take my sport damned seriously. Basketball is my life. There are other people who go into important games as if they were any other game. I'm a brooder and I spend a lot of time thinking about my opponent, about the things he can do and about what I have to do to win. I don't think I'll ever be able to change that.

Dirk Nowitzki

basketball winning sports

I always wanted to be a basketball player. Nothing more, nothing less.

Dirk Nowitzki

basketball-player basketball player

I thought basketball was a game for women. My mother played basketball, and so did my sister.

Dirk Nowitzki

basketball mother games

I know, basketball is a dance. I didn't understand the significance of that type of training at first. I was supposed to read poems.

Dirk Nowitzki

training basketball firsts

Growing up, my idols were Lucky Luke and Jolly Jumper. And Scottie Pippen.

Dirk Nowitzki

growing-up lucky idols

I want to raise a family and have a couple of small Dirks running around. But it will not be easy to win my heart.

Dirk Nowitzki

couple heart running

I lost control of myself a couple times in the playoffs. I have to keep cooler in the future.

Dirk Nowitzki

playoffs couple lost

When I think about my MVP season, I will also think about the loss to Golden State. But winning the award as Most Valuable Player of the NBA is just a huge honour. I didn't really realise how big it was until Mark Cuban had tears in his eyes at the award ceremony.

Dirk Nowitzki

eye loss thinking

I'm not the kind of guy who just goes up to women.

Dirk Nowitzki

slippers noodles guy

This feeling to be on the best team of the world is just indescribable.

Dirk Nowitzki

team feelings world

Off the floor I'm really laid back, like nothing really fazes me too much. But on the floor I do get emotional and a little carried away. However, I started playing when I was 13 to have fun with my teammates, and that never stopped. I enjoy traveling and having fun in the locker room with the guys. Life is too short to be miserable.

Dirk Nowitzki

life-is-too-short emotional funny

I came up with my own 'Dream Shake' I guess - the white version.

Dirk Nowitzki

shakes white dream

Basketball gave me a lot, which is why I want to stay connected with this sport later on, maybe working with young people. But it would be more in the background. Being in the spotlight was never really my thing. I never wanted to be famous.

Dirk Nowitzki

basketball sports people

The best player I've ever played against is Kobe Bryant. I have seen him do some stuff that is just unbelievable.

Dirk Nowitzki

unbelievable player stuff

Of course parents want their children to confide in them.

Dirk Nowitzki

parent want children

The playoffs is all about showing heart and playing together.

Dirk Nowitzki

playoffs together heart

As a newcomer, I was often expected to carry the bags of the older players, or get them burgers. That can make you feel pretty miserable.

Dirk Nowitzki

bags burgers player

I wanted to avoid service, because I was on the road to becoming a professional basketball player.

Dirk Nowitzki

becoming basketball player

If theres an injury, for a couple games, you can have guys step in. But for a long period of time, it always catches up with you.

Dirk Nowitzki

couple games long