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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, By continuing his legendary career into a 21st year |
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with the Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki has set an NBA record for |
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the longest tenure with one team, and this milestone season offers a |
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welcome opportunity to salute his exceptional accomplishments in |
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professional basketball; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Nowitzki has played in more than 1,500 NBA |
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games, and with a total of over 31,400 points, he stands as the |
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sixth all-time leading scorer in NBA history; long recognized as |
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one of basketball's top performers, he achieved the rare |
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distinction of being selected to the All-NBA Team 12 years in a row, |
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and he played in his 14th All-Star Game in 2019; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Wurzburg, Germany, Mr. Nowitzki played |
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pro basketball in his home country as a teenager and gained the |
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attention of NBA scouts during a 1998 exhibition game in San |
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Antonio; selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the ninth overall |
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pick in the NBA draft that same year, he was immediately traded to |
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Dallas; he led the Mavs to 53 victories in 2000-2001, sparking a run |
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of 11 consecutive seasons in which the team won at least 50 games; |
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after guiding Dallas to its inaugural NBA Finals appearance in |
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2006, he was honored as the league's MVP the following year, |
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becoming the first European player to receive that prestigious |
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accolade; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Nowitzki earned a special place in the hearts of |
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Texas sports fans in 2011, when he piloted the Mavs to their only |
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championship to date, and he was named the NBA Finals MVP for his |
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outstanding performance; a seven-foot-tall power forward whose |
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perimeter shooting has helped revolutionize the position, he is the |
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league's highest-scoring foreign-born player, and he has rewritten |
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the Mavericks' record book, becoming the team's all-time leader in |
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points, rebounds, blocked shots, minutes played, field goals, |
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three-pointers, and free throws; and |
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WHEREAS, Recognized for his selfless actions on and off the |
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court, Mr. Nowitzki has garnered the league's Twyman-Stokes |
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Teammate of the Year Award and the Magic Johnson Award; moreover, he |
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is a two-time recipient of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award, and |
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he oversees the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, which funds charitable |
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initiatives focused on assisting children; and |
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WHEREAS, A superb athlete and a respected leader, Dirk |
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Nowitzki has distinguished himself as one of the NBA's all-time |
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greats, and his myriad achievements will continue to inspire |
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basketball fans across the Lone Star State and beyond for many years |
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to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Dirk Nowitzki on his exemplary |
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career in professional basketball and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Nowitzki as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |