Dirk Nowitzki had not competed with the German squad in EuroBasket since 2011 shortly after he led the Mavericks to their first-ever NBA title.

DPA/Frankfurt

Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki returns to the United States after a “great” week in Berlin despite elimination with Germany at EuroBasket 2015 - and does not rule out a return in the national team dress.  “It was bitter. If you want to get to the ko round you have to win one of your three tight games, and unfortunately we didn’t manage that,” he told dpa in an interview.
“In the end it was a pity because it was simply a great week in Berlin. Everything was right, only the playing side unfortunately not.”
Nowitzki had not competed with the German squad in EuroBasket since 2011 shortly after he led the Mavericks to their first-ever NBA title. And although EuroBasket 2015 felt like a farewell for the 37-year-old after Germany were eliminated at with a 1-4 record, a return to international competition is possible if Germany should get a wild card to host a pre-Olympic tournament.
“I don’t want to rule it out,” he said. “It was a whole lot of fun in Berlin. If it was again in the Halle and it was to get to the Olympics that would be a great thing.
“If it comes to that and I am fit and the federation want me, I could still help a bit. Then we could certainly sit down together again next summer.”
Nowitzki meanwhile dismissed criticism in Germany that teammate Dennis Schroeder was often too egoistic, saying the Atlanta Hawks point guard had a “great” tournament.
“I can remember my first European Championship in 1999 in France when I was 21. I was nowhere near giving that sort of performance, and especially not as consistent as Dennis was,” he said.
“He kept driving us forward. Of course he has to work in future on his game overview but as I say he is only 21. I hope he has a long national team career ahead of him, then German basketball will have a lot of joy with him.”
Nowotzki says he is now looking forward to “the normal routine” in the United States after nearly three months in Europe, with the NBA season starting next month.
“It’s difficult to say what to expect from the Mavs. It’s a bit of a lucky dip. If we stay healthy we have two good people wide with (Wesley) Matthews and (Chandler) Parsons who could be a weapon for us,” he said.
The arrival of former Brooklyn Nets points guard Deron Williams is also a boost.
“We hope that his career really gets going again with us. Then we will be dangerous. Whether that’s enough to be mixing it at the top in the West is something we’ll have to see.”
Before returning to the States, Nowitzki was in Frankfurt to devote time to the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, which helps provide education, health and well-being for children around the world and is now 10 years old.
“We have in the course of the years supported many great projects and partly also helped get them going. For it is also a pillar I can use after my playing career,” he said.
Charitable foundations also have a role to play in the current refugee crisis in Europe, he suggested.
“It’s an incredible problem where you have to help wherever possible.
We will certainly integrate this (help) in the foundation,” he said.