Maverick Broekhoff thrilled to join hero
AS a skinny kid growing up in Melbourne’s southern suburbs, Ryan Broekhoff would put his beloved Dirk Nowitzki NBA jersey on, grab a basketball and try to imitate the German-born Dallas Mavericks star’s moves.
Nowitzki’s one-legged step-back jumper is one of the most recognisable shots in basketball and regarded as impossible to guard.
“Oh yeah,” Broekhoff said, recalling his days replicating Nowitzki’s money shot while a youngster on Frankston Blues’ junior teams. “I think everyone tried to do it. “Start at the post and step back. I still haven’t got it down quite like he has.”
Broekhoff, now 28 and 201cm tall, is living his childhood basketball dream as a member of Nowitzki’s Mavericks.
Broekhoff last week was in the visitors’ locker room at Staples Centre in downtown Los Angeles getting ready to face LeBron James and the Lakers.
Each Mavericks player had a nameplate above their locker.
Three lockers to Broekhoff’s right was the nameplate “NOWITZKI”.
“It was a little surreal at first,” said Broekhoff, describing how his childhood hero became a teammate. “It’s a very cool experience. “Dirk was friendly and welcoming, loves to have a good laugh and now I just see him as one of my teammates and not so much Dirk Nowitzki the superstar.”
Nowitzki, who turned 40 in June, had ankle surgery in April and is yet to play for the Mavericks this season, although his return is imminent.
Broekhoff received a first-hand look at the 13-time All-Star’s progress at Friday morning’s pre-game practice in LA. He was on Nowitzki’s team in a three-on-three game.
And, yes, Nowitzki’s step-back jumper still annihilates opponents. “He’s still got it,” Broekhoff said. “It doesn’t matter what age he gets to, that shot is always going to be impossible to guard.”
The Mavericks have been one of the NBA’s surprise teams this season and, despite losing to the Lakers 114-103, are eighth in the Western Conference.