Dennis Smith on his guy Dirk Nowitzki: He owes me $10,000

Dennis Smith: "Dirk owes me $10,000. We were talking one day, saying, ‘Ain’t no way Dirk can move that slow.’ Somebody set up a race. The deal was, Dirk starts at half-court, and I start at full-court, and we run to the other end. So we did it—I won the race—but he still hasn’t paid me. I keep telling him, ‘Dirk, don’t make me come down to your street to get my money.’ He just laughs it off, but I’m serious, Dirk! I need my 10 bands. That’s my guy, though. Dirk’s one of the coolest dudes I’ve ever met. Seeing how he worked, even late in his career, made me realize why he was so successful. He didn’t just work hard; he worked smart. Efficiency was everything for him."

Source: YouTube

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Dennis Smith: "Dirk was shooting his career-high three-point percentage, but that still wasn’t enough for him. He brought in a coach named Holger, who worked with him step-by-step. This man showed up in boots, jeans, and a trench coat, and walked Dirk through every little movement on the court. Dirk was so detailed—slowly stepping to his spot, turning, shooting, over and over. Watching that showed me why he was great. It’s not just about working hard; it’s about being efficient and diligent in your work. Dirk was already a legend, but he still wanted to improve. That’s why he’s one of the best to ever do it." -via YouTube / November 20, 2024

In the latest episode of his podcast Marchand Sports Media, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic noted that Amazon will likely prioritize international stars on-screen. That goes for both the teams it seeks to schedule in that slot as well as the broadcasters it hires. The reason? Amazon’s big Saturday national slate of games is likely to be scheduled for the afternoon in the U.S. to air in the evening in Europe. The streamer wants faces that fans will recognize front and center. -via Awful Announcing / October 23, 2024

Marchand specifically named Basketball Hall of Famer and native German Dirk Nowitzki as someone to watch as Amazon pursues this strategy. Though Marchand did not expand beyond Nowitzki, other candidates who fit that mold could include Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, or even Canadian Steve Nash. -via Awful Announcing / October 23, 2024

Dennis Smith: "In the NBA, they give you maybe two years to prove yourself. If you’re not what they think you’re gonna be in two years, it’s over. You’re gonna be hopping around like crazy. My last NBA game, I had a triple-double—23 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists—against the Spurs. After that, I didn’t play again. I left on a high note, but that’s the thing: it’s about opportunity and situation. The league moves fast, and if you’re not ready or in the right spot, they’ll move on, even if you’re producing." -via YouTube / November 20, 2024

Dennis Smith: "LaMelo Ball doesn’t do anything but play basketball. He’s always in the gym, putting in work. There’ve been nights when I’d come to the gym late, and he’d just be finishing up. Even when he’s playing video games, it’s 2K. He’s all about basketball. People don’t understand how dedicated he is, but I’ve seen it firsthand. Melo is one of those guys who lives and breathes the game. He’s young, but he’s already got that focus and work ethic that sets him apart." -via YouTube / November 20, 2024

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Dennis Smith on his guy Dirk Nowitzki: He owes me $10,000