Career: Würzburg (Germany-2.Bundesliga, 1996-98), Dallas Mavericks (NBA, 1998-2008). Selected in the first round of the 1998 NBA draft (#9), by the Dallas Mavericks.

Dirk Nowitzki is the leader of the German National Team. The EuroBasket 2005 MVP and 2007 NBA MVP is so much better than the rest of the German squad that coach Dirk Bauermann's passing system often stutters with players waiting for Nowitzki to create for himself. The seven-foot Dallas Mavericks star was desperate to play at the Olympics and was extremely happy, and relieved after Germany beat Puerto Rico to claim the last spot on offer. “The dream was to get there and now, I can't wait to take part in it all; the parade, competing for my country and living in the Olympic Village," Nowitzki said. Germany are in Group B with the United States, Spain, Angola, Greece and China, and Nowitzki said: “It is the toughest (draw) we could have gotten, but that's the Olympics and there are a lot of great teams playing."