Dirk Nowitzki Still in Championship Form During Special Panini Authentic Signing
As if collectors needed another reason to love Dirk Nowitzki, here’s No. 6,372: Last Friday afternoon, just before throwing out the first pitch at the Texas Rangers game and departing the next day for his homeland Germany, the Dallas Mavericks’ uber everything NBA Finals MVP took time to participate in a special private signing for Panini America and his namesake foundation.
Arguably the most in-demand athlete on the planet at that particular moment taking time for such a signing is indescribably cool. Even cooler? He shared pictures of the signing in real time on his Facebook page. Cooler still? The insanely spectacular, limited-edition results of the signing on beautiful display at Panini Authentic.
Nowitzki, the unassuming 7-foot superstar with the indefensible fall-away jumper, led Dallas to its first NBA championship by averaging 26 points and 9.7 rebounds during the Finals, icing the Miami Heat with his signature shooting touch and heaping helpings of resolve.
Less than two weeks later, and with his much-scrutinized left middle finger still taped and immobilized, the historically reluctant signer was every bit as impressive flashing signature moves of a different sort, inking his distinctive autograph to exclusive Panini Authentic 16 by 20 photographs and a small amount of Panini America trading cards.
The addition of Nowitzki only accentuates an unrivaled Panini Authentic roster of signers that includes the last two NBA Finals MVPs (Nowitzki and Panini exclusive Kobe Bryant), the defending NBA Rookie of the Year (Panini exclusive Blake Griffin), the two-time defending NBA scoring champion (Panini exclusive Kevin Durant) and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft (Panini exclusive John Wall).