BERLIN (EuroBasket 2015) - They filled up Berlin Arena and screamed their lungs out until the bitter end. They didn't get to see their team advance to the Final Phase. But they might have provoked the change of heart of a living basketball legend.

Moments after the final buzzer, the 13,600 fans who witnessed Germany's agonising 77-76 defeat to Spain on Thursday night were in silent agreement that this was Dirk Nowitzki's last ever appearance in a Germany jersey.

So was everybody.

Even the European basketball great himself.

"Well, I thought so," Dirk said late on Thursday night.

I was exhausted, I left it all out there and we couldn't come through, so it was very disappointing. - Nowitzki

"But now, I've heard that there is a chance [for Germany] to get a wild card to host a pre-Olympic tournament [Olympic Qualifying Tournament].

"So we'll just have to wait to see, or come back together next summer and talk about it.

"But for me, in my head, at the end, that was it.

"That's why I got emotional.

Despite that feeling of emptiness, the German superstar had gathered all his strength to walk the length of the court and greet the fans in what appeared to be his final bow.

Berlin Arena stood at the edge of their seats and gave him a standing ovation.

It seemed to go on for ever, a prolonged, heartfelt farewell to the player who had made several of those fans in the building fall in love with basketball in the first place.

Dirk could not hold back his tears.

"I was just thankful for the crowd, I am sure I didn't have a great tournament as everybody was expecting, or myself even," he said almost apologetically.

"But for them to acknowledge me and respect me the way they did, cheering my name...

"That meant a lot to me and I got emotional out there.

"It was just a fantastic moment in my career and I will always remember it."

It might have been produced in a different context than Nowitzki and every German fan was hoping for before the start of EuroBasket 2015, but it was precisely the expectation of this fantastic moment, of Dirk playing in Berlin, that graced us with the participation of one of the biggest European players of all time.

"I had said it before the tournament, if the tournament was anywhere else I would not be there," he said.

"But since it was here in Germany and the fans have supported me for so long, my entire career, this was sort of a 'thank you' to them, for me to come and play one more time.

"I am extremely grateful that all five games were sold-out.

"It's so amazing that it makes me emotional just talking about it."

Despite Germany's failure to qualify to the Final Phase, Dirk collected an individual accolade - one more - in this tournament.

Thanks to the 69 points he scored in his five games in Berlin, he passed Nikos Galis for second on the all-time scorers' list at EuroBasket.

Only Tony Parker, who required two games in Group A in Montpellier to jump ahead of the Greek legend, is now above Nowitzki on the list.

If he does come back next summer, then would the challenge of knocking the French icon out of first place provide enough motivation for a last EuroBasket campaign, in 2017?

Dirk finally cracks a smile.

"If there is a slight chance to play next summer, if there is a pre-Olympic tournament here in Germany, then that's for sure my last time playing," he says.

I actually grew up watching all the European championships, I was a huge fan of Nikos Galis. - Nowitzki

"He [Galis] was an incredible, incredible scorer from the guard position, so much fun to watch.

"I am extremely happy for Tony.

"I think he is an incredible point guard as well, he's always played for his country no matter where it was, so he's a well-deserved top-scorer of all time."

There were some neutral spectators in the packed Berlin Arena on Thursday night and certainly the most distinguished of them was Kevin Durant.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and USA superstar, said in an interview with FIBA Basketball World at half-time that he has 'always looked up to Dirk, as a tall shooter.'

"It's very humbling for me that Kevin says that, he is one of the greatest players that we have in our game now," Dirk said upon hearing back the comment.

He pauses, shakes his head.

"You know, some times it's surreal," he continues.

"I've been in this for so long and I've done so much in basketball in the US and also internationally.

"It makes me proud, proud for a long career.

"You're going to make me emotional again.

"Let's just say it's been a fun ride."

Then, visibly overwhelmed with emotion, he turned around and walked away.

But he didn't say goodbye.

Go to eurobasket2015.org for complete coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA