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Workout Maverick

Sporting News, The, April 22, 2005

Mavericks MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki uses an unusual drill to help keep his 7-0, 245-pound body in condition. At the core of his training is a jumping exercise that resembles a basketball version of a yoga ritual. Nowitzki begins by squatting as low as he can, then slowly rises until he uncoils a jump shot. The exercise improves flexibility and helps Nowitzki with the motion of his jump shot. Most important, the squat-and-jump builds strength in his legs. "Eighty-two games is a lot, and you have to be able to take the pounding; Nowitzki told the Dallas Morning News. "You can't duplicate a game in practice, so you push your legs and you push your knees with the stretches, and you get them used to it."

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Nowitzki's offseason workouts are even more unorthodox. He does ballet, he rows, and he Rollerblades, all under the direction of his mentor, Holger Gerschwinder. "A lot of what we'll be doing is from the '70s or even the '60s," Nowitzki says. "We're finding out every day that some of the old things work even better than the new things."--From wire services

Workout Maverick

Sporting News, The, April 22, 2005

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