On this day - Born June 19, 1978: Dirk Nowitzki, NBA player

FILE PHOTO: Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki shoots a free throw as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha watches during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Dallas, Texas March 17, 2013. REUTERS/Mike Stone

(Reuters) - Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki was one of the finest imports to feature in the NBA and became the first European player to win the league's Most Valuable Player award (MVP) in 2007 before he led the franchise to a maiden championship in 2011.

The towering power forward joined the NBA in 1998 from the wilderness of German basketball, where he played for local club Wurzburg in his hometown before he was selected as a first-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Bucks.