Quotes from Dirk Nowitzki

I've never faked an injury or an illness before.

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.

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

I felt, when I was 20, I wasn't quite ready for the physical contact of 82 games. Mentally, it was tough. I forgot what city we were in most of the time. I can't even imagine going through it at 18 or 19.

Make mistakes and make bad decisions: you learn from them.

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

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

I think different guys have different priorities. For me, it was always important to be in one spot, one city.

When you're older and get more experience, the game slows down for you. I know exactly what spot to get to where I can always get my shot off no matter who's guarding me.

I want to see myself as a student. Keep learning, keep improving, keep your eyes and ears open.

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

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

You always want to improve, learn from the veterans on the team.

I came into this league when I was 20, and I didn't know if I was going to make it.

Obviously, sometimes in the summer, when you're by yourself in the gym, you lift, you run... it gets hard sometimes. It gets hard sometimes; I'm not going to lie.

Most of my game is not really based on explosiveness, but I've gotta have a little lift on my jumper.

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.

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