[Saba Sports News] Basketball legend and Dallas Mavericks icon Dirk Nowitzki, standing at 7 feet tall, had an amusing encounter this week when a fan mistook him for another towering NBA figure. Nowitzki recounted on his X page how a restaurant-goer approached him, thinking he was Rik Smits, the 7-foot-4 former Indiana Pacers star. Nowitzki, known for his sense of humor, appreciated the fan’s basketball knowledge despite the mix-up.
The mistake is somewhat understandable, given the similarities between Nowitzki and Smits. Both are European NBA stars who played their entire careers with one team and share a significant height.
Additionally, Smits, who is Dutch and older at 57 compared to Nowitzki’s 45 years and German heritage, had a recent viral moment, making him a topical figure in basketball news. Such cases of mistaken identity are not uncommon among NBA players, even those as renowned as Nowitzki.