Is it time again for the German version of Michael Jordan to claim an award that he should’ve won possibly three times before?
Perhaps.
Dirk Nowitzki is the best international player to have ever entered the NBA.. Ever! Yet, the seven footer has never won an MVP award. Yes, he’s been in multiple 3-point competitions, and he’s been on the All-Star roster nearly every year, but we’ve never truly recognized Dirk for what he is: an MVP caliber player, who comes through season after season for the Mavericks, but yet, we continue to downplay his talent and importance.
Will we give him what he has deserved for more than year?
I mean, don’t get me wrong, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, etc etc. all deserve this award just as much as Nowitzki does. Each of the mentioned players plays the game with heart, puts in the work, and gets the end results. Whether it’s pouring in the points, getting the boards, or hitting the open teammates for the jumper.
But one thing that truly makes Dirk different from the rest isn’t that he’s from Germany, but it’s the fact that Dirk is one of the more unstoppable players this league has ever seen. Give it a thought, and you’ll begin to realize that I’m right.
With the size of a Pau Gasol, the handles of a Hedo Turkoglu, and the sweet, sweet jumper of a Steve Nash, Dirk is what I would call an unstoppable player.
He’s had the game ever since he played for DJK Wurzburg in Germany, way, way back then, and he continues to demonstrate the skill set night in and night out. It’s no surprise the guy’s been averaging over 20 points for the past 10 seasons now. And how can you not? Whether you put a big like Dwight on him, he can bring you out to the perimeter, put a couple moves on you, go right, fake left, and put up that signature fadeaway of his that’s become so deadly over the years.
What about throwing a smaller defender, in order to keep up with Dirk on the perimeter? I shouldn’t even have to tell you what’s next. He’ll just take the munchkin to the block and power his way to the bucket.
How do you stop a player like that? He can shoot from deep very well, has an array of post moves, and he also has teammates to dish to who won’t let him down.
It’s almost obvious as to why the Mavericks have been paying a trip to the postseason year-after-year. It all starts and ends with Nowitzki.
It’s no wonder Mark Cuban thinks Dirk will be in the all-time top ten when it’s all said and done. Dirk possesses all of the traits any GM, fan, or teammate would like to see in it’s star player: the passion to play, the ability to take over games, the power to motivate others, and the talent to knock down shots when they are needed.
But for some reason, we as the media, as the fans, and as the critics, don’t seem to notice how great of a player Dirk Nowitzki really is. Maybe it’s his European descent; maybe it’s his long hair; maybe it’s because he plays for the Mavericks; or maybe it is simply because we are ignorant to what is in front of our very eyes.
What I do know is this, NBA fans:
The Dallas Mavericks are currently one of the better teams in the NBA. They have already beaten teams like Miami, Boston, and San Antonio this season, and have entered the conversation of the league’s best.
You can make your comments about their age, or how Mark Cuban is a nut job, but I think I might be on to something here.
Dirk Nowtizki just might be be polishing a 2nd MVP trophy, along with a Finals ring comes season’s end.
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