Dirk Werner Nowitzki (German pronunciation: [ÃA?ÂA?dÃA?ªÃA?ÂA?k ÃA?ÂA?vÃA?ÂA?ÃA?ÂA?nÃA?ÂA? noÃA?ÂA?vÃA?ªtski]) (born June 19, 1978) is a professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 

Nowitzki has led the Mavericks to 12 consecutive NBA Playoffs (2001–2012), including the franchise's first Finals appearance in 2006 and only championship in 2011. He is an 11-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA Team member, and first European-born player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.^[1] He is the first Maverick voted onto an All-NBA Team and holds several all-time Mavericks franchise records.^[2] Nowitzki is the only NBA player to get 100 blocks and 150 3-pointers in a single season,^[2] and one of four to average more than 25 points and 10 rebounds in the NBA playoffs, only Nowitzki and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recording four consecutive 30-point, 15-rebound post-season games.