Mavericks legend reflects on 2007 MVP Award, playoff embarrassment
While MVP recognition should rank among an athlete's proudest accomplishments, former Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki considers his experience as one of "the most uncomfortable moments" of his legendary career.
Nowitzki won the MVP Award in 2006-07 after guiding Dallas, the favorite to win the championship, to the Association's best regular-season record (67-15). In 78 games, he averaged 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists and became the fifth member of the 50-40-90 club.
Unfortunately, Dallas earned the unglamorous distinction of becoming the third No. 1 seed to lose in the first round, falling to the "We Believe" Golden State Warriors in six games. During an appearance on Showtime's "Headliners With Rachel Nichols," Nowitzki admitted that he had no interest in accepting the MVP Award due to his shame over his playoff exit.
"I was embarrassed. I let the city and my team down," Nowitzki said. "All I wanted to do was go somewhere where nobody knew me and go on vacation or something.
"And then, sure enough, I got the call from the NBA [saying], "Hey, you cannot leave yet. There is a chance you might get the MVP," he continued. "I remember saying, 'I'll just give it to somebody else'... I was still so hurt and still so embarrassed about [the situation]."
Like many of his fellow Mavericks, Nowitzki struggled statistically in the Golden State series compared to his regular-season totals. He averaged 19.7 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 2.3 apg, with his shooting dipping to 38.3% from the floor and 21.1% from three-point range.
Fresh off the loss, Nowitzki could've acted unprofessionally by refusing to attend his MVP news conference and avoiding all discussions of his performance. Instead, he didn't hold back and went out of his way to address it.
Although the series outcome will forever stick with Nowitzki, he now recognizes his MVP Award as an "amazing" achievement that allows him to reflect on a memorable season. Surely, winning the 2011 championship and being named Finals MVP made up for a portion of the embarrassment he endured.
Over his 21 NBA seasons, which included 14 All-Star appearances, Nowtizki averaged 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He retired from the game in 2019, and earlier this month, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced that he'll be inducted as a member of the 2023 class.
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