NBA Great Pays JackJumpers Visit

The Tasmania JackJumpers were joined by basketball royalty on Monday morning, with former NBA MVP, NBA champion and FIBA Hall of Fame Inductee Dirk Nowitzki linking up with the side at the Kingborough Sport Centre.

Nowitzki was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the ninth selection in the 1998 NBA Draft before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks – the organisation that employed JackJumpers head coach Scott Roth as an assistant at the time.

Roth remained with Nowitzki and the Mavericks before moving onto become an assistant at the Grizzlies in 2000.

“It just worked out he was in the market here,” Roth said of the superstar's surprise visit. “When he texted me and said ‘I’m at Hobart Airport’ I almost fell out of my chair.

“I’ve known him since the first day he got to Dallas and he was just a great kid. He’s a humble and hungry guy who is at the core of my beliefs in basketball.”

The 1522-game NBA veteran's visit came as a surprise to Tasmania's playing group, who revelled in the chance to learn from one of the all-time great power forwards the game has produced.

“They were pretty shocked. To have the fifth highest scorer in NBA history come … into our little gym, in our little town, in our little state, it was a special moment for us all.

“He was gracious and humble enough to come down and spend about an hour with the guys and hang out. It’s not too many time you get a ‘GOAT’ to come in and share his experience.

“He shared some wisdom and knowledge, and some banter, with these guys. It’s been great.”

The JackJumpers currently sit fourth on the NBL ladder. They play South East Melbourne and Cairns in Round 16.