GER - Germany hail Nowitzki's MVP performance in NBA

HAGEN (EuroBasket 2007) - Germany had wanted to salute one of their own as an NBA champion but the country is nevertheless thrilled Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki has become the first European to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award.

Nowitzki, who led the Mavericks to a 67-15 mark - equalling the fourth-most wins in NBA history – was named MVP on Tuesday.

German basketball officials believe the honor should help Nowitzki get over Dallas’ surprise first-round play-off exit from the Western Conference play-offs at the hands of the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors.

"The award is very-deserved and we're all proud of Dirk," said Nowitzki’s national team coach, Dirk Bauermann, on the German Basketball Federation website.

"The losses in the play-offs don't downplay at all Dirk's performance. The MVP title underlines the position and importance of Dirk for our sport in Germany.

"But I'm sure it will be recognised with satisfaction by the entire German sports nation."

In his ninth season, Nowitzki averaged 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and a career-high 3.4 assists.

He was the only NBA player to shoot at least 50% from the field (.502), 40% from the arc (.416) and 90% from the line (.904).

The seven-footer finished no lower than 13th in scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage.

Nowitzki does seem to get better and better every season.

He earned EuroBasket 2005 MVP honours after leading Germany to a silver medal and in the ensuing NBA campaign, he provided much of the inspiration for the Mavs as they reached the finals for the first time before losing that best-of-seven series to the Miami Heat, 4-2

Last summer with Germany, Nowitzki was not at his best but still fired Germany all the way into the quarter-finals at the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

He will this summer represent his country again at EuroBasket 2007 in Spain where Germany will attempt to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

DBB President Ingo Weiss said: "Congratulations to Dirk, who can be proud of this honor. A German as the best player of the best league in the world - we're all thrilled about that.

"As a grounded German 'worker', Dirk continually developed and improved himself and now received his coronation. Of course it's disappointing that he didn't receive this honor as NBA champion, but that can still come in the coming years. I'm happy that Dirk will come back to the team this summer and play at the EuroBasket in Spain."

Nowitzki made it clear after receiving his latest award that he is still upset with the way he played against the Warriors in the post-season.

He averaged 19.7 points on 38% shooting and took most of the blame for the Mavs’ unexpected exit.

In a teleconference call with the European media, Nowitzki said: "I was disappointed for myself and I don’t need some fat guy on sports radio telling me I didn’t do well, I can see that for myself.

"I try and handle it the way I always handle disappointment, by being by myself, being around my family and friends and hopefully just come back stronger the next year."

FIBA