The 2023 class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was filled with legends who had a significant impact on the sport. Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, two legends who have engaged in several battles over the years, are among the new honorees.
With Nowitzki, Parker, and fellow Hall of Famer Pau Gasol, this year’s class has a sizable European basketball representation. Parker refers to Nowitzki as the “GOAT for European basketball” and credits him for establishing the tone and changing the playing field for players from Europe.
This is what Tony Parker had to say about Dirk Nowitzki
Tony parker has been a huge admirer of Dirk Nowitzki since a long time and it didn’t take much for him to wax lyrical about his hero and legend Dirk Nowitzki.
Parker said “It started with Dirk,” . “Dirk paved the way. I always say Dirk is the GOAT for European basketball. He was the one who was the first one to be a franchise player.”
Nowitzki enjoyed the compliment but paid respect to numerous European basketball greats who came before him, notably Detlef Schrempf, Toni Kukoc, and Peja Stojakovic. He frequently maintains humility about his own career.
In his typical humility Dirk had this to say : “He told me that yesterday and I was very humbled by that,” “I always give credit to everybody else. I think there were guys that paved the way for me with (Detlef Schrempf), Toni Kukoc and Peja Stojakovic, so many others. … If I came in and helped and inspire and motivate guys along the way, then that makes me incredibly proud.”
Who does Dirk pick as his GOAT
Nowitzki generally finds it difficult to draw comparisons between players from other periods. Although he firmly believes that fashion changes throughout time, he nonetheless valued Parker’s compliment. “It’s always hard, though, to pick a GOAT,””I think that’s part of a special debate. Everybody’s always wanting to compare eras and it’s just impossible to do. The styles change.”
“The game is so different now than 20 years ago when I got into the league. It’s hard,” “It’s hard to compare. If that’s his opinion, then of course, I’m very glad to hear that and I’m very proud to hear that.”