Photo Credit: RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES
Dirk Nowitzki Doesn’t Care About Records Anymore
Dirk Nowitzki joined an elite group of NBA legends last season, as he drained a signature jump shot which saw him reach the 30,000 points plateau. Despite other NBA personalities singing his praises for his achievement, Nowitzki is still somehow underrated by NBA fans and many individuals involved with the game which is downright blasphemy.
As he joined the NBA, numerous players and coaches alike didn’t believe Nowitzki would even last in the league, let alone break all kinds of records for a big man. But he has done that, and continued to prove the doubters wrong throughout his glamorous career. Nowitzki not only changed the game for international players, but changed the game forever overall. Unfortunately, his impact and influence throughout the NBA is still now quite comprehended by the casual fan after all these years.
His 30,260 career points currently put Dirk Nowitzki in 6th place on the NBA’s all time scoring list. On that list, Wilt Chamberlain is in 5th place… for now.
Nowitzki needs 1,159 points to surpass Wilt on the list. These 1,159 points equal an average of 14.13 points per game if Dirk played everey game next season. Dirk, who was injury-plagued for several times this past season, averaged 14.2 points per game in the 54 games he played. This would not be enough to catch him next season, but it would be enough if he played two more seasons, like he plans, if his would holds up.
I had the chance to personally ask Dirk if he has an eye on the list, and if he is looking forward to this possible achievement. He responded:
“Actually I don’t [keep track of it], I didn’t know the number and that’s actually not something I still play for, you know. If it happens, I always said ‘it is great and amazing’, but if it doesn’t, it’s fine, too. If next year, that doesn’t happen and I don’t feel like my body’s holding up, I’m not just gonna keep going at the end of my career just to get more numbers. I mean that’s just not what I play for. It’s not why I started to play. You know, I love to compete, I love the sport, I still love playing the games, that’s the fun part. If the fun’s going away, or if my body is not holing up, then it’s time to go. So we’ll just see how next year goes, and hopefully maybe even another year after that, and we’ll see how far I can go up [the NBA All Time Scoring List], but it’s not somoething I keep an eye on everyday.”
You see, young NBA fans growing up now will see the likes of Karl Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis and Joel Embiid knocking down threes form the outside, but what they don’t realize is Nowitzki paved the way for every shot making big man that can step away from the basket and be a deadly weapon. Nowitzki didn’t just create the true definition of a “stretch 4 and stretch 5” he revolutionized those positions forever. Previously, players were drafted out of college into the NBA purely on their size and ability to rebound the ball and possibly block shots. Now, NBA scouts are asking “Can he step away from the basket? Can he pick-and-pop? Can he handle the ball? Can he score? What’s his range?” All these questions are now relevant, because Nowitzki has dominated and scored the basketball in ways in which we’ve never seen big men put the ball in the basket for such a long period of time.
Despite all his success and continued production and loyalty each passing season, Nowitzki still hasn’t received the credit he has deserved. Maybe it’s because he’s not American, or didn’t have a colorful personality, or didn’t have a flashy game, but it’s baffling how he hasn’t received the recognition his accolades demand.
For NBA purists, Nowitzki’s impact, excellence and greatness will never be forgotten. He is an NBA MVP, Finals MVP, a part of the 30,000-point club, a part of the 50-40-90 club, the most decorated and successful international player ever and an NBA champion in one of the very best individual playoff and finals runs you are likely to ever see, as the Dallas Mavericks were crowned champions in 2011.
With his humble personality it is more than believable that Dirk really does not care about personal stats or records anymore. He is one of the last remaining gentlemen to play this game. When Dirk retires, after next season, or the year after, he will be missed, but his legacy will be here long after he has left the game.
Perhaps the most underrated superstar of all-time, we salute you, Dirk.
