Over the years, it has become common to see NBA stars show love and respect to athletes from other sports. LeBron James has often praised NFL quarterbacks, and Stephen Curry has supported golfers like Rory McIlroy.
These cross-sport moments show one thing: greatness recognizes greatness. Now, Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki has added his name to that list with a heartfelt message for NHL star Tyler Seguin.
Dirk Nowitzki Congratulates Tyler Seguin on His Career Milestone
On Saturday night, Seguin, who plays for the Dallas Stars, experienced a truly special moment as the franchise honored him for reaching 1,000 NHL games. Before the Stars faced the Florida Panthers, the team held a pregame ceremony to celebrate the veteran forward’s incredible milestone.
Seguin officially reached the 1,000-game mark earlier, on Oct. 30, during a game against the Nashville Predators. But the home celebration made the achievement even more meaningful. Family surrounded Seguin on the ice: his wife, Kate, and their daughter, Wren, were there alongside his parents, Jackie and Paul, and his sisters, Candace and Cassidy.
The arena played a tribute video showcasing some of the best moments from Seguin’s long NHL journey. As the video ended, fans were treated to surprise messages on the jumbotron from other Dallas sports icons.
Among the stars were Mavericks great Nowitzki and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, both congratulating Seguin and praising his dedication and longevity.
Seguin’s NHL story began when he was selected second overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He made his league debut later that year, registering four shots on goal in a 5-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes.
Seguin quickly made an impact, winning the Stanley Cup with Boston during his rookie season. In 2013, he was traded to the Dallas Stars, where he has spent the majority of his career.
Nowitzki’s message to Seguin is consistent with his reputation. The Mavericks legend has long been a fan of hockey and a supporter of athletes across sports. Seguin is not the only NHL star to receive congratulations from Nowitzki. In June 2024, after the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final, Nowitzki sent a personal text to German superstar Leon Draisaitl congratulating him on reaching the Stanley Cup Final and wishing him success.
“I got a message from Dirk. That was really nice. I think he was cheering for the Stars. But he’s still rooting for me a little bit, I think,” Draisaitl said, per Toronto Sun.
Nowitzki’s own career stands as one of the longest and most respected in NBA history. He was drafted ninth overall in 1998 by the Milwaukee Bucks and immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he spent all 21 seasons of his career. Nowitzki played 1,522 regular-season games, averaging 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while scoring a total of 31,560 points.
Nowitzki’s latest message to Seguin once again shows his deep respect for athletes everywhere.
