Tony Parker: Dirk Nowitzki is ‘the GOAT for European basketball’
With the new wave of European players entering and dominating the NBA, Tony Parker has given his flowers to Dirk Nowitzki, calling him the GOAT among all European hoopers.
From guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Luka Doncic to Nikola Jokic and Rudy Gobert, the league’s European players are the cream of the crop. Antetokounmpo and Jokic have won four MVPs in the past five seasons. They will certainly be Hall of Fame players in the future and go down as some of the top international players, but no one can resemble Nowitzki. He paved the way for a new generation of NBA players.
“It started with Dirk,” Parker said, via MassLive. “Dirk paved the way. I always say Dirk is the GOAT for European basketball. He was the one who was the first one to be a franchise player.”
“He told me that yesterday and I was very humbled by that,” Nowitzki said. “I always give credit to everybody else. I think there were guys that paved the way for me with (Detlef Schrempf), Toni Kukoc and Peja Stojakovic, so many others. … If I came in and helped and inspire and motivate guys along the way, then that makes me incredibly proud.”
“It’s always hard, though, to pick a GOAT,” Nowitzki said. “I think that’s part of a special debate. Everybody’s always wanting to compare eras and it’s just impossible to do. The styles change. The game is so different now than 20 years ago when I got into the league. It’s hard. It’s hard to compare. If that’s his opinion, then of course, I’m very glad to hear that and I’m very proud to hear that.”
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