Dirk Nowitzki on why facing San Antonio in his farewell game ment so much to him: "This team was always sort of our big brother"

One of the greatest power forwards to have ever played the game, Dirk Nowitzki was a rare mix of size and skill. He spent his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks, winning major individual accolades while also bringing the franchise its first championship banner in 2011.

It is certainly not tough to imagine how beloved he is to the people of Dallas. Thus, it was a very emotional moment for Mavericks fans when he decided to retire after the 2018-19 season. Cementing a great legacy, the German icon left an irreplaceable void.

Marking his final year in the NBA, Nowitzki had his send-off game scheduled against the San Antonio Spurs. Surely, an ironic situation, given the history he shared with Gregg Popovich and crew. This time, however, the veteran center was greeted with loud cheers and MVP chants.

“This team (Spurs) was always sort of our big brother and they were beating us up. We found a way to get through in ’06 – to me, probably still, one of the best playoff series that I’ve been part of. Probably some of the best basketball in that series that I’ve played in my life,” stated Nowitzki.

The I-35 rivalry

If there was one team that gave Nowitzki a lot of hardships, it was the Spurs. Entering the league in 1998, Dirk had his fair share of battles with the San Antonio franchise. Unfortunately, he failed to register wins on most occasions, but found a route in the iconic 2006 playoff series.

Wrapping up the 2005-06 season, the Mavs and Spurs both finished with 60 wins. Thus, when the two teams were locked to face each other in the semi-finals, it was going to be a basketball treat for fans. It was not disappointing; the series went down to the wire, with Dallas winning.

Trading punches constantly, the Spurs managed a three-point lead with 2.6 seconds remaining, but a foul from Manu Ginobili sent the game into overtime. A sequence that featured Manu fouling Dirk on his way to the basket, which eventually led to a successful three-point play.

With the game going into overtime, Dirk took over, ending the game with 37 points and 15 rebounds. The Mavs would go on to create history, making their first-ever Finals appearance in 2006, but could not get the job done, as they lost to the Heat in six games.

Pop paid tribute to the German legend

Coach Pop is one of the most revered personalities in the NBA, given his legacy with the Spurs. During his illustrious career, he saw some of the most incredible talents grace the hardwood. One of whom was Nowitzki, who played the last game of his career in San Antonio.

Although on the opposite side, Popovich had always admired Nowitzki for his talent, paying his homage to the Mavs legend when he decided to retire.

“Everybody – players, fans, coaches and staff got to witness history, watching him play his last game. He played a fine game, which was great. It’s not surprising…I feel honored and blessed to have been able to watch him all these years because he’s one of those consummate professionals, and he never wavered from that,” said Popovich, giving Nowitzki his flowers.

Though rivals, Nowitzki always held the Spurs in high regard, even admitting that they always got the better of the Mavericks. One of the biggest takeaways from the rivalry was that bigs like Dirk and Tim Duncan broke away from the traditional image introdcuing a new age for the NBA big men.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Dirk Nowitzki on why facing San Antonio in his farewell game ment so much to him: “This team was always sort of our big brother”

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