101 Quotes by Dirk Nowitzki

Money isn't something I play for. I want to compete. I want to win.

I may not be the most physically tough player, but I think mentally I'm right up there.

Off the floor, I'm really laid back: like, nothing really fazes me too much. But on the floor, I do get emotional and a little carried away. However, I started playing when I was 13 to have fun with my teammates, and that never stopped. I enjoy traveling and having fun in the locker room with the guys. Life is too short to be miserable.

I always wanted to be a basketball player. Nothing more, nothing less.

I'm not big on material things, but I like my cars. They are German-made and custom-made.

I never looked at basketball as work. I always enjoyed it as my hobby. I loved it. Once that love is gone, and I'm tired of working out every day and doing all the stuff to get me ready for games, and I'm tired of lifting and conditioning and doing all that other stuff around it, and I'd rather stay in bed, then it's time to go.

My dad never really played basketball, but now he's my biggest critic. I come home, and he says: 'Why didn't you shoot there? Why didn't you drive?'

I played all kinds of sports when I was young: tennis, handball, basketball, some soccer. I focused on basketball when I was 16 or 17 and then came to the U.S. when I was 20.

I want to raise a family and have a couple of small Dirks running around. But it will not be easy to win my heart.