Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash renewed their friendly rivalry Saturday to raise money for North Texas children as the Dallas Mavericks legend celebrated 25 years since launching his foundation.
Nowitzki hosted the eighth annual Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic at Banner House at T Bar M in Dallas. Nash returned as the opposing captain for the exhibition event, which the foundation calls its largest fundraising effort of the year. The foundation directs 100% of the event’s proceeds to projects and annual grants for North Texas nonprofits.
Nowitzki said during the event’s press conference that the friendship cooled when the former Mavericks teammates became Western Conference rivals.
Dirk Nowitzki answers a question about his long-time relationship with Steve Nash this past weekend at his Dirk Nowitzki Foundation 8th Annual Tennis Classic press conference, acknowledging it chilled for a time and became “awkward” after Nash was traded to the Suns. @swish41… pic.twitter.com/v4xhdV31Ss
— The Dallas Express News (@DallasExpress) September 22, 2026
“I think it went from super hot to very cold, super hot again,” Nowitzki said.
Nash left the Mavericks as a free agent and signed with the Phoenix Suns in 2004. Nowitzki said their friendship became awkward for a time as the former teammates competed against each other. The two reconnected in retirement through their families, travel, tennis and work on Amazon Prime Video’s NBA coverage.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Nash helped present Nowitzki for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
A foundation built on giving back
Nowitzki said Nash and former Mavericks teammate Michael Finley showed him early in his career how professional athletes could serve the communities supporting them. He said he launched the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation in 2001, making 2026 its 25th year.
The foundation initially focused on grants. Its work later expanded after Nowitzki’s wife, Jessica Nowitzki, became its president and helped build its fundraising and community events, Nowitzki said at Saturday’s press conference.
The foundation says it has awarded more than $400,000 in grants to community partners. It has also worked with H-E-B, Mrs. Baird’s Bread and Heroes Foundation to distribute more than $250,000 in groceries and household staples to Dallas County families. It maintains a decades-long partnership with Children’s Medical Center, where Nowitzki visits patients and delivers gifts.
Eight North Texas groups receive support
Nowitzki recognized eight organizations that received foundation grants this summer: Dallas Tennis & Education Academy, For Oak Cliff, Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County, Klyde Warren Park, Mosaic Family Services, The Studio School of Music, Dallas Leadership Foundation and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
The Tennis Classic’s announced field also included former tennis professionals John Isner and Mark Knowles, former Dallas Cowboys star DeMarcus Ware, former NFL player Michael Bennett, former NBA players Peja Stojakovic and Devin Harris, and actor Boris Kodjoe.
The foundation focuses on children affected by illness, poverty, abuse or neglect and supports programs centered on health, education and well-being.
“With the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation I want to help provide education, health and well-being for these children and to make a difference in their lives,” Nowitzki said in the foundation’s mission statement.
Provided by Dallas Express
