'She’s Gonna Be Tremendous': Dirk Nowitzki Talks Paige Bueckers, WNBA Growth, and Mavs Winning Lottery at Wings Game

Dirk Nowitzki has always been more than a basketball icon in Dallas. On Monday night, as he sat courtside at College Park Center and joined the Wings’ broadcast, he once again proved why he remains one of the city’s most trusted ambassadors for the game—this time lending his voice to the rise of women’s basketball in North Texas.

Nowitzki praised the growth of the WNBA and encouraged fans to embrace it.

“We know how hard these ladies work and how good they are—how good their skill level is,” Nowitzki said. “This league has come a long way from when it started. I’ve been watching since way back when the league first started, and it’s come a long, long way. It’s fun to watch, and everybody needs to come out and support.”

Nowitzki’s attendance came during the Wings’ second consecutive home sellout of the 2025 season, driven by the arrival of No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers.

The team has seen a surge in ticket demand, social media engagement, and local visibility—fueled partly by significant offseason investments, including an expanded regional TV deal reaching over six million households and a renovated downtown Dallas arena set to open later this year.

Dirk Nowitzki Sees Star Qualities in Paige Bueckers

Bueckers, who received standing ovations during her draft introduction at Dallas City Hall and whose jersey sold out within hours of her selection, has already begun adjusting to the league’s physicality. Nowitzki sees clear progress and long-term potential.

“It’s gonna take a while to obviously get used to the physicality in the WNBA,” Nowitzki said of Bueckers. “But I think she’s got the talent. She’s gonna be amazing for us, and she’s just gonna get better from game to game, from season to season. You can already see now she’s more comfortable out there compared to game one. So she’s gonna be tremendous for this organization for a long time.”

Wings general manager Curt Miller has described Bueckers as “a modest superstar,” and teammates have echoed that she leads with humility, toughness, and an intuitive grasp of team dynamics.

Wings and Mavericks Experience Shared Momentum in Dallas

Dirk Nowitzki also reflected on the rare energy building across Dallas basketball. For the first time in history, the Wings and Mavericks hold the No. 1 overall picks in the same year. The Mavericks are expected to select Duke’s Cooper Flagg in the upcoming NBA Draft—a move Nowitzki sees as a possible inflection point for both franchises.

“Winning the draft lottery is always big,” Nowitzki said. “The Mavs did it a few weeks ago, and so it’s great to have good young talent come in for your franchise. In most cases, it can turn your franchise around. So hopefully that’s the case for both teams.”

While Nowitzki has remained largely quiet on Mavericks-related developments since the Luka Dončić trade, his comments on Flagg and Bueckers signal a broader optimism for the next generation of Dallas basketball—one that spans both leagues.

The Wings are building a franchise around Bueckers with modern infrastructure, growing corporate investment, and sellout crowds. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are preparing to welcome Flagg to a roster featuring Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II.

For Nowitzki, the direction is clear: basketball in Dallas is entering a new era, and fans across the city have reason to rally behind it.