Nike Wrote a Charming Storybook About Dirk Nowitzki, Europe's Top Contribution to the NBA

Nike has long excelled at turning athletes into heroic figures worthy of deification atop Mount Olympus, but perhaps what's most impressive is the range of ways the brand and agency Wieden + Kennedy have found to tell those epic tales over the decades. In the newest example, Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam has created a storybook and accompanying video dedicated to German-born NBA star Dirk Nowitzki, who announced his retirement this month after 21 years with the Dallas Mavericks. With a limited print run, "The Maverick" tells the story of Nowitzki's rise from the 1998 draft to his role in helping the Mavs claim their franchise's first NBA championship in 2011. You could fill a book with Nowitzki's records and accomplishments—highest-grossing European player ever, longest stint at one team, first European named league MVP, etc.—but instead, Nike and W+K took a more playful and narrative approach: [kickout id="1"] To highlight Nowitzki's impact on the sport, the spot was even narrated by fellow NBA legend Steve Nash. One copy of the book was given to Nowitzki, with 41 others (honoring his No. 41 jersey) going to people who helped shape his career. More copies were to be made available via the Nike app. [kickout id="2"] [kickout id="3"] CREDITS: Agency: Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam Executive Creative Directors: Eric Quennoy, Mark Bernath Creative Directors: Evgeny Primachenko, Craig Williams Art Director: Jeff Lam Copywriter: Alex Bower Head of Broadcast Production: Joe Togneri Broadcast Producer: Cory Chonko, Endy Hedman Group Account Director: Kathryn Addo Account Director: Franky Wardell Account Manager: Fulvio Itagiba Head of Planning: Martin Wiegel Planning Director: Stephane Missier Head of Comms & Digital Strategy: Danielle Pak Comms Planning Director: Wes Young Head of Design: Joe Burrin Studio Director: Lizzie Murray Lead Motion Designer: Gustav Von Platen Motion Designers: Lieke Milder, Nils Crompton, Marco van der Vlag Designer: Steele Bonus Studio Artist: Noa Rodero Project Manager: Loes Poot, Caroline Kosse Business Affairs: Fiona Fan ILLUSTRATION Illustration/directors: CRCR Animators: Rémi Bastie Jeremy Pires Emmanuel Lantam Bernard Bui Hanne Galvez Rachid Guendouze Xavier Ramonède Producer: Amanda Stubbs Junior Producer: Ilona Marcus FILM PRODUCTION Production: Heart & Hustle Director: Rashad Floyd Director of Photography: Trinity Webber / Chris Zamoscianyk Production Manager: Amber Merritt Executive Producer: Rashad Floyd / Nancy Lichtwardt Producer: Noah Lichtwardt Audio Post: Wave Amsterdam Sound Designer/Mixer: Randall Macdonald Music: Beatworms Artist / Title: Cam Ballantyne Postproduction: Wizz Colorist: Rémi Nonne Post Producer: Frederic Gehant Motion Graphics: Unit Motion Design Motion Designer: François-Côme du Boistesselin Motion Designer: Jade Schiff Print Production: Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam Print Producer: Lizzie Murray