Questionable performance: Concerns about Dirk Nowitzki – "It destroyed his body"

Created: 02/26/2022, 04:45 am

By: Marius Epp

Dirk Nowitzki has trouble walking.

© Screenshot Twitter/NBA

When performing in the USA, Dirk Nowitzki leaves a worrying physical impression.

Has the long basketball career destroyed his body?

Cleveland – Dirk Nowitzki* is one of the greatest German athletes in history.

He only left his great love of basketball when his body forced him to do so.

He was on the floor for the Dallas Mavericks for 20 years, 25 years if you count his beginnings at DJK Würzburg.

It should be clear that an unbelievable 1,522 NBA games have left their mark.

Still, many basketball fans are concerned after seeing "Dirkules" at an official NBA event.

The German legend was allowed to accompany the NBA All-Star weekend as a co-commentator on US television.

Dirk Nowitzki has trouble walking – "It destroyed his body"

In addition, Nowitzki was ceremonially inducted into the illustrious circle of the 75 best basketball players of all time.

The 43-year-old accepted the award in person.

When he walked the red carpet in the packed Cleveland Arena, many were amazed.

Nowitzki clearly had trouble walking and moved at a snail's pace.

Speculations about his state of health quickly mounted online.

"The man is in pain.

Is there no treatment possible?” asks a concerned fan on Twitter.

"Damn, it destroyed his body," wrote another.

Dirk Nowitzki regrets the late end of his career: "Sometimes I think about it in the evening"

A Dallas Mavericks fan page shares concerns about the Big Man.

"That's the result of the last two seasons he's been talking about.

It's hard to see him walking in such a way that he can no longer run around and play with his children.” Nowitzki has never had a particularly rounded gait because the length of his legs is different.

But when you look at the pictures, it becomes clear that there is probably something more wrong.

Nowitzki recently said in the podcast "Einfach mal Luppen" by Toni Kroos* that he sometimes regrets having played for so long.

“Sometimes I do wonder whether the last two years have really paid off.

Of course I still set a few nice highlights, but in the end we weren't good in terms of sport.

I couldn't move properly anymore."

His left ankle in particular gave him trouble again and again.

If he had stopped earlier, "maybe my foot would be a little bit better.

I think about that sometimes in the evenings," he admitted.