Dirk Nowitzki Praises Modern NBA: 'It’s Amazing to Watch' Compared to His Era

Dirk Nowitzki, a legendary figure in basketball and future Hall of Famer, has long been synonymous with the NBA’s global growth and the evolution of the power forward position. Nowitzki’s career, which spanned 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, bridged eras of the league. Recently, he offered a candid and enthusiastic perspective on how the modern NBA stacks up against the game he once dominated.

Nowitzki’s comments, made in a recent interview, reflect a deep appreciation for the league’s transformation. Rather than lamenting the changes or romanticizing his own playing days, the German great expressed genuine excitement about the NBA’s current state.

"It’s amazing to watch"

was his succinct assessment of today’s style of play.

The NBA has undergone a dramatic shift over the last decade, moving toward a faster pace, greater emphasis on three-point shooting, and a premium on versatility. Where Nowitzki helped spark the stretch-four revolution, today’s big men are expected to shoot from deep, handle the ball, and defend multiple positions. This evolution has created a brand of basketball that is more free-flowing and skills-oriented than ever before.

• The league pace has steadily risen; teams averaged over 100 possessions per game in recent seasons, a stark contrast to the slower, grind-it-out tempo of the early 2000s.
• The three-point shot has exploded in popularity, with teams routinely taking more than 30 attempts per game. In Nowitzki’s prime, that figure was often less than 20.
• Player skill sets have broadened: centers and forwards now routinely initiate offense, shoot from distance, and switch defensively onto guards.

Nowitzki’s admiration comes from recognizing these developments as positive progress. While some former players criticize the modern game’s reliance on outside shooting and perceived lack of physicality, Nowitzki sees the innovation and skill as a testament to how far the league has come. He helped pioneer many of these trends, but is quick to acknowledge that today’s generation has elevated the game even further.

His perspective is especially relevant considering his own legacy. Nowitzki retired with over 31,000 career points and is regarded as one of the greatest shooting big men in history. Yet, he sees the current era not as a threat to his place in the game, but as an exciting next step in basketball’s evolution.

Fans and analysts often debate which era of basketball is superior, weighing factors like physicality, defense, and star power. Nowitzki’s comments cut through the nostalgia, offering a reminder that the present-day NBA is not only different, but in many ways more dynamic and entertaining. The league’s global reach, diverse talent pool, and constant innovation are on full display every night, making for a spectacle that even legends of the past can appreciate.

As the NBA continues to evolve, Nowitzki’s words resonate as both an endorsement of the game’s direction and a challenge to future generations to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the court.