This month Dirk Nowitzki became ninth on the all-time scoring list and a conversation began on if he is the best European player of all time. There have been other good European players but none as good as Dirk.
Dirk is an 11-time All-Star, NBA champion, and finals MVP to go along with many more accolades. He has accomplished what no other European players ever have. Hakeem Olajuwon (Lagos Nigeria) and Patrick Ewing (Kingston, Jamaica) are the only ones who could say they are better international players.
In 2011, Nowitzki's dream came true, and he was able to win his first championship. That championship gave Dirk the chance to cement his legacy. This season, the Mavericks have built a powerhouse team, so it won't be surprising if Nowitzki hangs it up with another ring under his belt.
Dirk is one of the greatest offensive players the game has ever seen. Standing seven feet tall, he can shoot from anywhere on the court and could light it up in a hurry. He made the one-legged fade away shot famous. He is a rare talent in the sense that we have not really seen a lot of big men with the ability to stretch the floor like Dirk can. He can also pass the ball well at his position and height.
He has been carrying this Mavericks franchise all his career and majority of them have resulted into winning seasons. It took him long to win his first ring, but it is nothing to be upset about. It just took a while to find a group of players to mesh with Dirk and feel comfortable playing as a unit.
With Dirk in his final years, management has brought in good pieces and has put together a good team this season. Nowitzki's role has changed, but he has still been scoring the ball. However, now that he is aging, Rick Carlisle might need to manage his minutes.
With a strong resume and some outstanding accomplishments, there is no questioning the fact that Dirk Nowitzki will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.