Dirk Nowitzki to represent Germany at this summer's Eurobasket
One-legged fadeaways will be raining down on Europe this September.
Dirk Nowitzki hasn't donned the jersey of his native Germany in four years, but the future Hall of Famer's absence from international competition will end this summer.
"I've chosen to be in Berlin," Nowitzki said Thursday of joining the German team at Eurobasket 2015, which will be hosted by Germany, Croatia, France, and Latvia.
"I've had the whole month of May and used it to gain some distance and enjoy family time," said Nowitzki, according to the tournament's website. "Of course, I also have consulted the matter with my wife. But a EuroBasket in our home country is a huge thing and I look forward to it. I thought it would be a great way to conclude my national team career."
Germany has been placed in the Berlin-hosted Group B, along with Spain, Italy, Serbia, Turkey, and Iceland.
"If it was anywhere else, at the age of 37, it probably would have been a no-go for me," Nowitzki said of the tournament.
Dirk added that Germany's gain stems from the Dallas Mavericks' loss.
"In the end, the national team was lucky that we lost so early," he joked about Dallas's first-round playoff exit at the hands of the rival Houston Rockets.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has long been an opponent of allowing players to represent their countries in FIBA events, but the outspoken billionaire surprisingly supported Nowitzki's decision.
"I think it's great," Cuban told ESPN. "Games are being played in Germany. It will be a chance for his fans there to see him play."
Nowitzki has certainly given enough to the Mavericks franchise to earn a pass from Cuban. The NBA's seventh all-time leading scorer and a former MVP, Nowitzki continues to produce at near All-Star levels despite his advanced age, and he signed an incredibly team-friendly, three-year, $25 million extension with the Mavs last summer.
Nowitzki's play slowed somewhat this season, although while a down year for his lofty standards, the 2011 Finals MVP still averaged roughly 17 points and six rebounds on a True Shooting Percentage of 56.0 while suiting up for 77 games, posting a Player Efficiency Rating of 19.26.
Germany failed to make it out of the group stage in 2013, when France won the Slovenian-hosted event.