Hooped Up

Dirk Nowitzki did not do any interviews immediately after propelling Germany to its first Olympic berth since 1992. He couldn’t. The Dallas Mavericks’ best player was in the locker room in Greece bawling Sunday, like a baby or newlywed or player who has finally delivered on a promise to his country, his coach and himself. He had been thinking of this moment long before he dreamed of MVPs and NBA championships. Anybody who even kind of knows The Big German is giddy for him, with the possible exception of Mavs owner Mark Cuban, who is certainly no fan of NBA players in the Olympics. And even he is happy for Dirk. “My issues on the Olympics are not with Dirk or the players,” Cuban said via e-mail Sunday. “I’m thrilled for Dirk. It’s a dream of his, and there is nothing that could make me happier for him.”

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Now that the flood gates of International talent has fully been opened.  Hooped Up has compiled a list of The 5 Best International NBA Players Ever!  

5. Dražen Petrović, Portland Trailblazers / New Jersey Nets

 
Born: Šibenik, Croatia
Position: Shooting Guard
NBA Experience: 4 Seasons
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Awards: 0

A tireless shooter and prolific scorer, Petrović is arguably the most celebrated basketball player ever to emerge from Europe. “Petro” is considered a crucial part of the vanguard to the present-day mass influx of European players into the NBA.  Tragically, Dražen Petrović was killed in an auto accedent in 1993, just as he began to flourish in the NBA at the age of 28.
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The Phoenix Suns beat the Dallas Mavericks again, and this one was no down-to-the-wire thriller between the teams with the best records in the NBA. Leandro Barbosa scored 29 points and the Suns beat the Mavericks for the second time in 18 days, 126-104 on Sunday. Amare Stoudemire added 24 points and Steve Nash had 23 and 11 assists as the Suns snapped Dallas’ nine-game winning streak and finished their season series with the Mavs 2-2. After a scoreless first quarter, Shawn Marion had 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting. He also frustrated Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki all afternoon.”

Arizona Republic

The mad rush to anoint Steve Nash the MVP a third time in the immediate wake of the Suns’ double overtime victory last week in Dallas now looks to be … well, exactly that. Madness. Almost as soon as Dirk Nowitzki clanked that fourth-quarter free throw and missed the possible tying jumper at the end of the second overtime, the word came from NBA media types, fans, bloggers and just about anyone connected to this game: Nowitzki’s MVP hopes? Done.”

Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks all-star forward Dirk Nowitzki, who is still hearing criticism for his meltdown during a 129-127 double-overtime loss to Phoenix last week, admitted yesterday that he gets tight during pressure situations. “I think everybody who says they don’t get tense, they’re lying,” Nowitzki said following practice at Dodge Fitness Center on the campus of Columbia University, where the Mavericks were preparing for the Knicks tonight. “It’s big games. You got to find ways to stay loose and relax. I’ve been doing a decent job of not letting the pressure get to me and still enjoying the moment.”

Washington Post

During All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, LeBron James served as Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard’s unofficial publicist.Each time anyone asked a question about the vaunted draft class of 2003 and brought up the names Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony, James would interrupt and remind that the Mavs’ first-time All-Star’s name is included before offering up uninvited praise of Howard’s game.

James moved from Howard’s fan club to Dirk Nowitzki’s on Wednesday, as the Cavaliers wrapped practice and prepared to fly to Texas for their first look of the season at the NBA’s best team, the only one they haven’t played yet. James gave the German star his whole-hearted endorsement as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, thus far.

Akron Beacon Journal

Often, Steve Nash is sainted for his two MVP seasons, but Shaquille O’Neal considers them to be “tainted.” After Miami’s loss in Dallas on Thursday, O’Neal was engaged in an MVP discussion as it related to the Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki. O’Neal questioned how the media picks MVPs and said the award has been “tainted” the past two seasons. O’Neal was the runner-up for Nash’s first MVP in 2005.

Arizona Republic

The Western Conference reserves in the 2006-2007 All-Star will feature Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, Dirk Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer, Amare Stoudemire, Tony Parker and Shawn Marion.

Boozer will not be able to play in the game due to injury, leaving a spot that will be filled by David Stern. Yao Ming also will not be able to play.

TNT

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week ending January 14.

For Wade, this is the fifth time he has been tabbed the Player of the Week, tying for first on the Heat’s all-time list with teammate Alonzo Mourning.

For Wade, it is the first time this season he has received the honor. Wade received the honor twice last season for the week ending January 1 and also for the week ending December 4. He also received the honor once in each of his first two seasons in the league. Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki was selected as the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week.

NBA