MUNICH (Germany) - Germany have revealed plans to honor all-time great Dirk Nowitzki with a jersey retirement to take place at FIBA EuroBasket 2022.

The ceremony will take place on the opening day of this year's tournament with Germany set to take on France as Group B action tips off in Cologne on September 1, 2022.

"I FELT HONORED WHEN THE IDEA WAS PRESENTED TO ME."

Nowitzki, an official FIBA EuroBasket 2022 ambassador, will be present in Cologne as his number 14 jersey is retired with the now 43-year-old becoming the first German player to receive such an acknowledgment.

"I felt honored when the German Basketball Federation presented this idea to me. That was a nice surprise and I'm excited to see what awaits me in Cologne. As an ambassador of the FIBA EuroBasket, I'm looking forward to exciting games with great teams and I hope that the fans in Cologne and Berlin will ensure full arenas and a great atmosphere," said Nowitzki.

Nowitzki is widely regarded as one of the greats of European basketball and his commitment to Germany is being recognized with President of the German Basketball Federation, Ingo Weiss full of praise for everything accomplished.

"If anyone deserves it, it's Dirk," he said. "He was always ready to play for Germany and has achieved incredible things in 153 international games for the national team. It's great that Dirk also brings his enthusiasm and experience to basketball as Chair of the FIBA Players' Commission and as the official FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Ambassador. I am pleased that we have found a suitable setting to honor Dirk Nowitzki in this way."

Nowitzki's national team service with the senior team spanned the best part of two decades with a debut EuroBasket appearance in 1999 before going on to become MVP after leading Germany to the 2005 Final as they finished as runners-up.

Germany's legendary power forward officially announced his international retirement in 2016 and continued playing in the NBA until the end of the 2018-19 season.

Earlier this year, Nowitzki was also honored by Dallas Mavericks with a jersey retirement having won an NBA Championship title in 2011 in the highlight of 21 years with the same franchise since being drafted in 1998.

Germany's pursuit of European silverware starts in Cologne from September 1-7, 2022 before the tournament moves onto the knockout phase in Berlin from September 10-18, 2022.

FIBA