Dirk Nowitzki: After the end of his career, "the emptiness seeps through"
Although Dirk Nowitzki, 40 years old, has been thrown into the glory halls of North American basketball pro league NBA and has earned his legendary status, he has never liked to be in the limelight. He tells this in conversation with the weekly newspaper "Die Zeit". However, in his first post-career interview, he also explains, "But if you've had that for two decades, then you're getting used to it, and probably I'll miss it."
He has indulged in cake and wine
He already noticed that the house was empty and "it so slowly seeps through the void". But he also seems to enjoy his new freedom: "Last week, I ate cake and drank my first glass of wine for ten years," he continues. "It was quite warm after a few sips and it felt good."
But how should it continue now? The native of Würzburg could imagine, "once a year or two have passed" to become a coach or manager. "I would like to be a mentor and companion of a young player and, as Holger Geschwindner did to me, I would accompany him through my career in my very own way."
Criticism of glee
At the same time, however, Nowitzki also criticized how the public deals with German sports legends. "This strange longing for the failure of previously highly acclaimed people is not appealing to me," explains the former basketball player. "First, people celebrate us athletes, that we can do something better than them. [...] And as soon as people find something that gives cause for gloating, they throw themselves on it."
Nowitzki also sees this as a challenge: "You will find something that I am not as good at doing as many others I am a human being Still I am moving in a system that is perfectly tuned to myself Perhaps the biggest challenge for me will be be allowed to make mistakes and not be condemned immediately. "
