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Pistons' Casey: Dirk 'changed the narrative of European players'

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey had high praise for Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki ahead of their Friday night matchup.

Casey began his NBA coaching career with the Seattle Supersonics as a member of George Karl's staff in 1994. While in Seattle, he coached Detlef Schrempf - a trailblazer in German basketball - who apparently had an unfavorable first impression of a young Nowitzki.

"Detlef was saying of his fellow German, 'Oh he can't play. He's just too skinny,'" Casey said, according to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News via Stephen Hunt. "And now here Dirk's a Hall of Famer, but Dirk changed the narrative of European players."

Schrempf's 16-year career included three All-Star appearances and an All-NBA third-team honor. He helped pave the way for Nowitzki and other European players that followed him, but Casey believes the Mavericks legend has had a greater overall impact.

"Dirk really set the tone for scoring and shooting," Casey said. "And I've always said anytime you have a move named after you called the Dirk or the Sikma move, you're doing something special ... he's meant a lot, not just to European players, but every NBA player that's been in this league."

The 40-year-old Nowitzki is averaging 3.8 points per contest in his 21st and likely final season in the NBA.

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