PLANO – Time and time again on Wednesday afternoon at the Dallas Mavericks Summer Hoop Camp at Collin College, coaches kept trying to end the Q&A session forward Dirk Nowitzki was having with the 110 enthusiastic campers on hand.
However, Nowitzki kept saying: “Two more questions, two more questions. . .” This went on and on and on and on for about 20 minutes until it finally ended – with Nowitzki acting like he wanted to say “two more questions” again.
In a nutshell, this was precisely the kind of day made for a big kid like Nowitzki. He revels in the idea of spending as much time with kids as possible. It’s almost as if it’s a side job that brings him so much joy.
“It’s fun, for first of all,” said Nowitzki, who made a surprise visit to the campers. “It’s our future and I’m just stopping by and saying hi.”
For a busy man of Nowitzki’s stature to gladly take a bunch of questions from a bunch of eager kids just shows his selfless nature. It’s a soft side of Nowitzki that Ben Hunt, the youth basketball manager of the Mavs Basketball Academy Hoop Camp, has repeatedly seen over and over again.
“That’s the type of guy he is,” Hunt said. “If he gets an opportunity to answer more campers’ questions and talk a bit about his experiences and how he got to where he got to, we all win, and today was no exception.
“But that just shows his character. He’s going to always talk for the kids, always talk for everybody associated with us, and today was no exception.”
In addition to the Q&A and some photos, Nowitzki played a few games of Knockout with the campers. And the 20-year NBA veteran lost – purposefully — just so he could see the smile on the kids’ face when he knows they’re going to run and tell their friends they knocked out the NBA’s No. 6 all-time leading scorer.
“I had fun playing Knockout against him, and I had a great time,” nine-year old Ronelyse Hartfield said. “I got to see him for the first time in person.
“I didn’t think he was that tall once I saw him. On TV he looks a little small to me.”
Even the “big kids” were in awe of Nowitzki. One of the camp coaches, Ronard Patton, even brought a photo and him and Nowitzki in a plaque that was taken some five years ago and posted in a local newspaper when he defeated the Mavs’ legend at a hoop camp in downtown Dallas. Patton said his son, Brycen, didn’t believe he beat Nowitzki, although the photo clearly shows the exhilaration on Patton’s face when the game of Knockout ended.
On Wednesday, Patton showed the photo to Nowitzki, who kindly autographed it.
“It feels pretty amazing to have something so special and unique that I can keep with me for a lifetime,” Patton said. “That’s one of the greatest players in the game, and to get to have this memory is something that I can always hold dear to my heart.”
Patton said when he initially showed the picture to Nowitzki, the Mavs’ superstar had to laugh at the shorts he (Nowitzki) donned that day.
“He commented on his shorts that he had on,” Patton said. “He couldn’t believe that he wore those plaid shorts out there.”
Jim Sigona, the Collin College men’s basketball coach, also was all smiles to have a legend such as Nowitzki spend time in his gymnasium while making pleasant memories for a group of kids.
“It’s awesome that Dirk shows up for camp, especially for the kids,” Sigona said. “That’s the all-time greatness that Dirk is.
“He’s always great with the kids. This is probably his fifth or sixth time out here and he just does a great job with them.”
When the questions stopped and the games of Knockout ended, Nowitzki took the time to graciously high-five the kids. All 110 of them.
That brought out a loud “oh my goodness” from Hunt, as he and others saw arguably the greatest pro athlete Dallas has known to act like he’s a proverbial card-carrying member of the local kid’s club.
“Our high five lines are a great way to end our player visits,” Hunt said. “But what’s also been special this summer is we’ve had a different player come(to a Mavs camp) each week, and that just shows their character as well, and what they’re about and what we’re about as a Mavs family to have our players come out and visit all summer long at all our camps.
“And to finish off with Dirk here at our 10th week of camp and our 20th Hoop Camp this summer, you can’t ask for more than that.”
During the Q&A session, one inquisitive kid asked Nowitzki if he thinks he’ll be able to break the NBA’s single-game scoring record of 100 points set by Wilt Chamberlain on Mar. 2, 1962. A smiling Nowitzki deadpanned: “I’m not sure you watched me play last year.”
Nowitzki then added that it may take him 10 games to score a total of 100 points.
“We usually try to get some Mavs players to every camp,” Nowitzki said. “This is obviously the last one of the summer.
“I’m glad it worked out that I could come and say hi and play a little Knockout and see some kids.”
The back-n-forth with the kids, Hunt said, has made Nowitzki an annual darling with the hoop campers. When he walked through the gym doors and the kids realized who it was, it was as if a rock star was in their immediate presence.
“To have No. 41 come out and spend some time with us, answer some questions, tell us a bit about himself and play some Knockout, it is absolutely a highlight,” Hunt said. “For these kids it’s something they’ll always remember.
“And just for everybody who was out here today to be in his presence is amazing and just a wonderful experience for all. This is going to be a memory they’ll never forget.”
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