Born on June 19, 1979, Dirk Nowitzki is a native of Germany and currently plays for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. After applying early for entry into the 1998 NBA Draft, Nowitzki was selected ninth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was immediately traded, however, to the Dallas Mavericks. He struggled during his early career, as many athletes do, but has since risen to become one of the top players in the league.

During his NBA rookie season, Dirk Nowitzki averaged 8.2 points per game. The following year, during the 1999-2000 season, found Dirk finishing second in the NBA's Most Improved Player voting. That season, he played in each of the 82 regular season games and averaged 17.5 points per game, which was more than double his average for the previous season.

By the time the 2000-2001 season rolled around, Dirk Nowitzki became the first player in team history to be selected to the All-NBA team. At that time, he became the team's leading scorer with an average of 21.8 points per game. In the 2001-2002 season, Nowitzki's success continued to grow as he averaged 23.4 points per game. During a bout of misfortune, Dirk Nowitzki suffered an injury to his left ankle that kept him from participating in six games. This marked the first time he had ever missed a game due to injuries.

During the 2002-2003 NBA season, Dirk Nowitzki scored a team-high average of 25.1 points per game. In addition, he averaged career-high assists and steals. In December 2002, Nowitzki missed two games due to yet another ankle injury. This one, however, affected the right ankle, which was sprained during a December 10 game against the Clippers. When the 2003-2004 season was underway, Dirk Nowitzki was averaging 21.8 points per game. During a November competition, a right ankle sprain took him out of the game after only seven minutes of play. This injury led to five games being missed.

Today, Dirk Nowitzki averages 26.6 points per game, stands 7' tall and weighs 245 lbs. He is a forward that can often be intimidating to opponents as he not only has the height to earn points, but to rebound with ease. Away from the court, Dirk Nowitzki enjoys reading and playing the saxophone. His mother and father, both skilled in sports, have two children. Dirk's sister, Silke, works for the NBA in International TV. His father, Joerg, played handball and his mother, Helen, was a star player for the German women's national basketball team. Just before joining the NBA, Dirk Nowitzki served a mandatory term with the German Army from September 1997 through June 1998.

Fans who would like to request a signed photo or simply send Dirk Nowitzki their best wishes are urged to do so in care of his NBA franchise team. If you are requesting an autograph, be sure to include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) along with your request. It is recommended that fans not send an item that they could not afford to lose, such as prized possessions or limited edition collectibles. There is never a guarantee that an athlete will be able to accommodate every autograph request, which is why the most common items to send include a blank index card, trading card and/or photo. Letters and requests should be mailed to:

Dirk Nowitzki

Dallas Mavericks

The Pavilion

2909 Taylor St.

Dallas, TX 75226