Mavericks After Dark: Three “Million to One” Predictions

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Apr 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the Mavs loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Dirk Nowitzki, MVP

Insanity, right? Dirk Nowitzki is considered one of the best basketball players to ever put on an NBA jersey, and for good reason. In his illustrious 18-year career up to this point, Dirk sits at #6 on the all time scoring list.

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Only 5 players sit in front of him: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal. That is not bad company to be in. Between those 5 players, there are a total of 15 MVP seasons.

Incredibly, 11 of those MVP awards belong to Kareem and MJ while the other three players share 4. Dirk received his own MVP award in the year 2007 but hasn’t even been in the conversation since then.

However, Dirk has also done something that none of the other players have been capable of. He has been effective in his final years in the league. So effective, in fact, that he led the team in scoring at 38 years old. That takes a man with an unparalleled work ethic.

If Dirk is required to be the driving force for the offense again this year and is able to turn back the clock just one or two more years, we could see the Big German hoisting another individual trophy. Again though, the chances of him getting an MVP award this season are about the same as Kobe Bryant.

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