Nowitzki reflects on Wembanyama's 'scary' talent, evolution of basketball / News - Basketnews.com

Dirk Nowitzki says staying healthy is key to unlocking Victor Wembanyama's potential.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki has spoken exclusively to fiba.basketball about the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2023, the evolution of basketball, and much more.

Dirk Nowitzki

Position:PFAge:44Height:213 cmWeight:111 kgBirth place:Wurzburg, GermanyProfileNewsStatistics

"I'm happy to be here," he said ahead of the World Cup Draw ceremony. "The World Cup is our biggest event that we have in FIBA basketball and it's always so well organized, it's basketball on the highest level, great countries competing."

Nowitzki led Germany to third place at the 2002 World Cup and was named the MVP of the event after averaging a tournament-best 24 points per game, as well as 8.2 rebounds.

Amazing players have graced the World Cup stage since the very first one in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since Nowitzki scooped the honor, Pau Gasol (2006), Kevin Durant (2010), Kyrie Irving (2014), and Ricky Rubio (2019) have been named World Cup MVPs.

Who might it be after the Final is played in Manila on September 10?

"It's always the same kind of guys, the NBA superstars if they all come, Luka [Doncic], Giannis [Antetokounmpo], [Nikola] Jokic. They all played at the EuroBasket last year which talent-wise was an amazing tournament and turnout [by fans]," Nowitzki said.

"Hopefully we'll have the same here at the World Cup, basketball on the highest level. We'll see who the US team brings. You never know. We'll see who's available, who is healthy but to me, they will always be the favorite, no matter who they have because of the talent pool they have. It'll be fun to watch."

If one talks about the evolution of the game over the past 25 years or so, Nowitzki's name figures prominently.

"The game has changed," he said. "When I came in, there were a lot of 4s [power forwards] and 5s [centers] close to the basket, rebounding and muscling, and then I was part of the change, the early 2000s, when the game became more of a movement game again, less holding, less fouling."

Indeed, taller and bigger players were able to show off their amazing talent.

"They got rid of the hand checks in the NBA and that really helped me and all the European skilled big men," Nowitzki said. "They could play facing the basket, they could shoot, bring the ball up.

"And I think that's something that we've seen the last 20 years, the big men getting more and more skilled."

Nowitzki marvels at the play of today's stars, while the basketball world is getting a look at the generational talent of France, Victor Wembanyama.

"You always think you've seen it all and then Wembanyama comes around, a 7-5 guy," Nowitzki said.

"I watched a highlight the other day and he shot a step-back from three, and then [got] a put-back. I mean, who does that? You got to be skilled, you got to be quick to the ball. You got to be long. It's scary how talented this kid is.

"So long, the skill level, can dribble, can shoot. Hopefully, he can stay healthy. That's the only thing that can hold him back. I think everything else, I've heard he's got the work ethic, he's a smart kid, he wants to be great, he's putting in the work and we're all here to support him and see his full potential. We're all rooting for him. Hopefully, his body holds up. Scary talent."

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.