Detlef Schrempf, the first major German star in the NBA, happens to be one of Dirk Nowitzki's biggest fans, according to The Star-Telegram.

"Dirk has done amazing things for German basketball," Schrempf said recently. "To play every summer is extremely hard and tough on the body. I did it for a few years. You?re away all summer, traveling, and it?s tough. This is the last chance for Germany for a while because they?re losing a lot of players and there are not a lot coming up. So it would be nice if they could medal."

Schrempf was a member of the German national team that finished seventh at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.