Dirk Nowitzki was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks and immediately traded to what team?

Dirk Nowitzki was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks and immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks. The transaction occurred during the 1998 NBA draft, when Milwaukee selected the German forward with the ninth overall pick and sent his rights to Dallas.

Dallas had originally selected Michigan power forward Robert “Tractor” Traylor with the sixth pick. The Mavericks dealt Traylor’s rights to Milwaukee in exchange for Nowitzki and the rights to Pat Garrity, whom the Bucks had selected 19th. The move became one of the most important draft-day trades in NBA history.

Nowitzki had been a relatively unknown prospect to many American fans, having played professionally in Germany for DJK Würzburg. He spent his entire 21-season NBA career with Dallas, becoming the franchise’s defining player. He led the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA championship and was named Finals MVP.

A common mix-up is saying Dallas drafted Nowitzki directly. Officially, Milwaukee made the selection; Dallas acquired him immediately afterward and built its franchise around him.