When I think of Dirk Nowitzki, the first thing that comes to my mind is loyalty. 21 years with the same franchise is something that does not come around often, regardless the sport. Loyalty is something that is hard to come by nowadays in sports. Whether it’s the player leaving or the franchise trading them away, loyalty is hard to come by. Over the past 21 seasons, Dirk has been the epitome of loyalty.
The German born, Nowitzki, spend his 21 year career with the Dallas Mavericks. Over the course of his career, the 7 footer enjoyed 14 all star seasons and 1 MVP season in 2007, but his career was much more than the accolades and achievements.
The high point to any athlete’s career would be winning a championship. It’s how they’re remembered and certainly defines a legacy. How the championship is won is less analyzed, but just as, if not more, important than anything else.
Dirk’s lone championship and the Mavericks first and only championship in team history came in 2011. After sweeping a Kobe Bryant lead Lakers team and defeating a then Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden Thunder team 4 games to 2, Dirk and the Mavericks were set to face “The Big 3”.
LeBron James’s first season as a Miami Heat ended in defeat to Dirk and the Dallas Mavericks in 6 games. Dirk was named Finals MVP after averaging 26 points and 9.7 rebounds a game, but accomplished much more than just a championship and ring in 2011.
A huge underdog entering the series, the Mavericks’ average age of their starting lineup was 31 years old, their second best player was a 33 year old, Jason Terry. The Mavericks, on paper were overmatched, yet they accomplish the unthinkable.
Dirk’s 2011 Dallas Mavericks’ team is and will be the last “non-super” team to win an NBA championship.
Aside from the highlight of Dirk’s career, he leaves the game as the best European born player to ever play. He finishes his career with 31,560 points scored, good for 6th all time.
However, the most impressive thing about Dirk’s career is that he was before his time. He was a 7 foot power forward, who could shoot like a shooting guard and handle the ball like a point guard. With the game of basketball elevoling the way it is, Dirk is everything you look for nowadays. The best 7 foot shooter in NBA history, his iconic one-legged fadeaway was picture perfect and forever will be.
While, he never did announce 2019 would be his final season, we all knew. Dirk was never that spotlight, look at me guy. He flew under the radar and in his eyes didn’t need a farewell tour, but he deserved one. So to a future Hall of Famer, thank you for an amazing career.
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