Stars honor Mavericks legend Nowitzki with pregame puck drop

DALLAS --The Stars welcomed back a Dallas legend to American Airlines Center on Saturday.
Dirk Nowitzki, the NBA legend and undoubtably the greatest Mavericks player of all-time, was honored before the Stars faced the Montreal Canadiens, participating in the ceremonial puck drop.

The 14-time NBA All-Star and 2007 MVP, who retired last spring after spending all 21 of his professional seasons with the Mavs, was given a standing ovation by the home faithful as he emerged from the tunnel wearing a Victory Green No. 41 jersey. He then greeted captains Shea Weber of Montreal and Dallas' Jamie Benn at center ice before dropping the puck.

Later in the first period, Nowitzki was shown on the arena video board following a short montage of his career in Dallas, where he waved his arms to pump up the crowd.
Before the game, Nowitzki, who had the former 2900-3000 block of Olive Street outside of AAC renamed "Nowitzki Way" in his honor earlier this week, met with Stars players and staff inside the team's dressing room and was given the honor of calling out the starting lineup.

Check out more scenes from Nowitzki's night with the Stars from team photographers Sean Berry and Glenn James: