Dirk Nowitzki, a former NBA champion, had a close call recently when a fan attempted to dunk over him at a promotional event outside the Dallas Mavericks’ home arena before Game 3 of the NBA Finals. The fan’s dunk attempt was unsuccessful, and instead of completing the dunk, he landed on Nowitzki’s back, nearly knocking him down in the process. The incident caused Nowitzki’s shirt collar to pop up, but he seemed to be okay after the failed dunk.
Nowitzki, who spent his entire NBA career with the Mavericks and was the 2011 NBA Finals MVP, retired in 2021. Despite the mishap with the fan, he appeared to be in good spirits during the event.
In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the Mavericks lost to the Boston Celtics with a score of 106-99. The Celtics now have a 3-0 series lead going into Game 4 on Friday night.
It’s always exciting to see fans interact with their favorite players, but it’s important to remember that sometimes things can go wrong, as demonstrated by the failed dunk attempt on Nowitzki. Fans should always be cautious when attempting such stunts to avoid any potential injuries to themselves or the players involved. Let’s hope that future fan interactions with sports stars are more successful and injury-free.