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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki retired from the |
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National Basketball Association on April 11, 2019, and this |
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occasion offers a welcome opportunity to salute his outstanding |
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accomplishments in the sport; and |
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WHEREAS, The 2018-2019 season was Mr. Nowitzki's 21st with |
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the Mavericks, which set an NBA record for the longest tenure with |
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one team; during his final campaign, he moved into sixth place on |
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the list of all-time leading scorers in NBA history, and when he |
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netted 20 points in his final game, he brought his career total to a |
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remarkable 31,560; his farewell year also saw him take the floor for |
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his 14th All-Star Game; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Würzburg, Germany, this exceptional |
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athlete played pro basketball in his home country as a teenager and |
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first gained the attention of NBA scouts in 1998; after being |
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selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA draft that year, he was |
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immediately traded to Dallas; his presence helped transform the |
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franchise, and during 2000-2001, the Mavs recorded the first of |
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what would become 11 consecutive seasons in which they won 50 games |
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or more; in 2006, he helped the team make its debut in the NBA |
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Finals, and the next year he became the first European player to |
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receive the league's Most Valuable Player honor; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2011, Mr. Nowitzki earned a place in the pantheon |
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of legendary Texas sports heroes by leading the Mavs to the NBA |
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championship, and he was named the finals MVP for his extraordinary |
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performance; his elite position among Dallas players is also |
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reflected in the record books; he is the team's all-time leader in |
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points, rebounds, blocked shots, minutes played, field goals, and |
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three-pointers; and |
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WHEREAS, Selected to the All-NBA Team 12 years in a row, |
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Mr. Nowitzki's accolades also include the Twyman-Stokes Teammate |
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of the Year Award, which recognized his selfless play and |
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leadership, and the Magic Johnson Award, which honored his |
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cooperation with the media and the public; moreover, he is a |
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two-time recipient of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award, and he |
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oversees the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, which funds charitable |
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initiatives related to children; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of more than two decades, Dirk |
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Nowitzki distinguished himself as one the NBA's finest players, and |
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the success he achieved as a member of the Dallas Mavericks will be |
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remembered and admired long into the future; 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 retirement |
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from the NBA and commend him on his exemplary career in professional |
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basketball; 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. |