(CNN) -- Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki is a 10-time NBA All-Star and the first European in history to receive the Most Valuable Player award. Born into an extraordinarily athletic family, the 7-foot German dabbled in a variety of sports -- from tennis to soccer -- before finding his calling as a teen. The 32-year-old power forward is now enjoying his 13th year in the NBA and has recently signed a contract worth $80 million over four years -- making him Germany's second highest paid sports star after F1 legend Michael Schumacher. But Dallas is a long way from his small suburban hometown of Wurzburg, in the heart of Germany.
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German-born NBA star Dirk Nowitzki comes from a very sporty home
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Says his parents are his biggest fans, but dad is also biggest critic
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He's Germany's second highest paid sportsman but says he's never been motivated by money
Last year for the All-Star game that was here in @placeholder, I had 20 to 25 people come and stay at my house.
CNN: You're the second highest-paid German athlete behind @placeholder.
I got to carry the flag for @placeholder and led my nation into the stadium which, to this day, is one of the greatest days of my life.