Nowitzki savors 'amazing ride'

German-born Dirk Nowitzki's journey to become the National Basketball Association's highest scoring non-American player was anything but traditional but the Dallas Mavericks forward still calls it an "amazing ride".

Nowitzki surpassed Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon and moved into ninth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list on Tuesday when he drained a mid-range jumper during the fourth quarter of a come-from-behind 106-98 win over visiting Sacramento.

"It was a really special moment to do it at home in front of the fans who have been with me through all my years here and they gave me a great standing ovation," Nowitzki, 36, said on Wednesday.