NBA legend Charles Barkley tells a good story — and he’s not afraid to make himself look bad in one either. Invited to honor retiring NBA star Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, Barkley remembered having first met the German sharpshooter and future NBA MVP when Dirk was just 18 years old. Barkley relayed how they were playing in an exhibition game in Germany and “he scored 26 the first half on me. He finished with 42.”
Barkley, mesmerized, said at the time: “Son, who the hell are you?” It wouldn’t be long before everyone in basketball knew the answer to that question. Nowitzki joined the Mavericks in 1998 and retires this year 31,000 points later as the sixth leading NBA scorer of all-time — surpassing Wilt Chamberlain on the way. Barkley added his own memorable characterization to the legend of Dirk — one that goes beyond the scoring. Barkley said: “let me tell you something else about Dirk Nowitzki. He’s the nicest man ever.”
