[charles barkley]Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP * CHARLES BARKLEY FIRST MET DIRK NOWITZKI AT AN EXHIBITION GAME IN 1997, AND THE THEN-18-YEAR-OLD GERMAN BIG MAN SCORED 52 POINTS AGAINST A TEAM OF NBA ALL-STARS. * ACCORDING TO BARKLEY, HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO NOWITZKI AND TRIED TO CONVINCE NOWITZKI TO PLAY FOR HIS ALMA MATER, AUBURN UNIVERSITY. * BARKLEY SAID NOWITZKI BAFFLED HIM BY SAYING HE HAD TO JOIN THE ARMY. * NOWITZKI LATER SAID HE DIDN'T GO TO AN AMERICAN COLLEGE BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT A COACH TO CHANGE HIS GAME. HE WAS DRAFTED TO THE NBA IN 1998. * FOLLOW ALL OF BUSINESS INSIDER'S 2019 NBA ALL-STAR COVERAGE HERE > The first time Dirk Nowitzki met Charles Barkley, he stunned the 11-time All-Star and Hall of Famer. In 1997, then-18-year-old Nowitzki played for a German team against a group of NBA All-Stars at the Nike Hoop Heroes exhibition game.SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDERNOW WATCH: Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen have a combined net worth of $580 million. Here's how the power couple makes and spends their money. SEE ALSO: * The Anthony Davis trade saga that rocked the NBA world is still hanging over the league on its biggest weekend * Shaquille O'Neal explained why his father's advice about staying 'broke' changed his life * Shaquille O'Neal says he would be like the 'Greek Freak' and average 40 points per game if he played in the NBA today
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