NBA Legend Takes Big Step Toward Becoming a US Citizen
NBA superstar Dirk Nowitzki retired in April, but he doesn’t want his time in the United States to come to an end.
The 40-year-old, who was born and raised in Germany, has started the process of becoming a U.S. citizen, along with his wife, Jessica Olsson.
“We’re in the process of getting a green card,” Nowitzki told The Dallas Morning News. “So once we accomplish that, then you have to be a green-card holder for, I think, over five years before you can even think about doing that [becoming a U.S. citizen].
“So we’re going to do that and see how it goes. But obviously our [three] kids were born here and they all have U.S. passports, and the wifey and I have been on a visa for the last few years.”
Two months after calling himself ‘Texan,’ thrilling Mavs fans, Dirk Nowitzki has started the long path to becoming a U.S. citizen https://t.co/OMEZ3WVrCF via @sportsdaydfw
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) June 7, 2019
Nowitzki’s assessment is correct.
His children have birthright citizenship in the U.S., and green-card recipients can apply for citizenship five years after their card is approved, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Nowitzki speculated on becoming an American in an interview with The News in 2012, saying he would want dual citizenship.
He still embraces his German heritage but Texas is now his home.
“This is where life is,” Nowitzki said, according to The News’ report this week.
“We’re going to continue to travel a lot in the summers, but once the school year starts, my oldest [daughter Malaika] is going into first grade next year,” he said.
#41 has paid so much US tax … crown the man #?
— Shawn Kelley (@kelleytime27) June 7, 2019
Nowitzki deserves credit for wanting to go through the strenuous legal process to become a citizen.
It takes time and is not the easiest process, but he wants to do things the right way — which is what most Americans want to see from immigrants.
Nowitzki has made a good living in the states playing basketball. He has an estimated net worth of $170 million, according to The Richest.
He played for the Dallas Mavericks from 1998 to 2019 and was selected to the NBA All-Star game 14 times.
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