Photo Credit: AP Photo/Ron Jenkins
Dirk Nowitzki Will Likely Pass Numerous Historic Milestones In His Final Season
In the 2016-17 season, Dirk Nowitzki joined an elite group of NBA legends, as he drained a signature jump shot which saw him reach the 30,000 points plateau. Dirk is an NBA champion, won the league’s MVP and the Finals MVP award. He was part of 13 All-Star teams and 12 All-NBA Teams and is one of the few members of the 50-40-90 club. Nowitzki is ranked 6th in all-time-scoring, 7th in all-time defensive-rebounds and 2nd in all-time NBA Finals free throw percentage. He once made 82 consecutive free throws made in the regular season which is good for the third-longest streak of all-time, as well as 26 consecutive free throws made in the Finals, the longest streak of all-time. On top of that Dirk is one of only three players with at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, 1,000 steals and 1,000 blocks, one of two players with 150 three-pointers and 100 blocks in a single season (2001), one of four players with an NBA Playoff career average of 25 points and 10 rebounds, one of three players to surpass the mark of 1,000 in both three-pointers and blocks for the career, and one of four players to surpass the marks of 30,000 in points and 10,000 in rebounds for the career.
He definitely is an all-time great and a first-ballot Hall of Famer. But this year, in what likely will be his final season, Dirk will add some more records to his name and will move up on some all-time NBA lists.
If Dirk plays 5 games in this coming season, he will surpass Karl Malone for 4th place on the career games played leaders list. If he plays 35 games, he’ll pass John Stockton for 3rd.
If Dirk scores 232 points, he’ll move ahead of Wilt Chamberlain on the NBA’s all time scoring list (but even if he scores the 232 points, he might never be in 5th place after all, due to LeBron James closing in quickly, needing only 149 points to catch Dirk).
Nowitzki also has the chance to creep into the top-10 on the all-time 3-pointers list. With 70 three pointers, he’ll move past Jason Kidd (who is 9th (Joe Johnson is 10th but will likely play next season as well).
On top of that, Dirk will likely pass Elgin Baylor and Patrick Ewing for 25th on the NBA’s all time rebounding leaders list, he’ll also likely pass Michael Jordan for 5th on the career free throw scoring leaders for 5th.
Dirk Nowitzki, truly a legend!
