Ranking the top-20 NBA players of all time…
21 seasons (1998-2019)
Rings: 1
MVPs: 1
NBA Finals series record: 1-1
Playoff record: 69-76 (.476)
Playoff stats: 25.3 PPG (46.2% FG) | 10.0 RPG | 2.5 APG
Regular season games played: 1,522
Stats: 20.7 PPG (47.1% FG) | 7.5 RPG | 2.4 APG
Other Accolades
Complex’s Zach Frydenlund on Nowitzki:
“Before Dirk, rarely did you ever see a 7-footer in the NBA launching from deep. Now just look at the NBA today. If your team doesn’t have a big man that can shoot from 3, you’re not winning anything.”
“Dirk brought about change that fundamentally altered the way the NBA is played. Above all of that impact, Dirk’s numbers and accolades back up his spot on this list. He dropped over 30,000 points in his career, won an MVP award, made 14 All-Star appearances, earned a spot on the NBA’s 75th anniversary squad, and racked up countless other honors over his career.”
“And though this isn’t all that important, Dirk was able to do it with the same franchise for his entire career. And I didn’t even mention how magical he was during the 2011 NBA Finals when his Mavs upset LeBron James and the Heat.”
HoopsHype on Nowitzki:
“Nowitzki’s elite skill level made the common thinking go from being that big men need to stay in the paint to: If your big men don’t space the floor, you’re at a disadvantage.”
“Nowitzki made a contender, and eventually, a champion, out of the Mavericks without star sidekicks for the most part of his career, hoisting the trophy in 2011 and winning Finals MVP for his efforts, one of the most legendary playoff runs by a star ever.”
But who tops Dirk as the No. 19 greatest player of all time? Find out below.
More NBA: Ranking the greatest NBA players of all time: No. 19
