How Dirk Nowitzki Has Scored 30,000 Despite the Doubters

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Nov 13, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Theory 1: Dirk Changed the Game

Take this however you want to, but Dirk Nowitzki changed the game of basketball in a big way. Before the Big German, the NBA had a very close-minded approach on players over 7-feet tall. A 7-footer was expected to have his back to the basket and was supposed to pull down rebounds all night.

Dallas Mavericks

Thanks to an innovative mind by the name of Holger Geschwindner, Dirk took his approach much differently, having the opportunity to play the game from the triple-threat, shooting from outside the key, and making plays off the dribble as opposed to backing down his opponent in the paint.

Prior to Dirk coming to the NBA, this was something that was very abnormal and had hardly even made its presence in the league. Now the league doesn’t have just stretch 4’s that can go outside the arc…there are stretch 5’s. Everyone, no matter how tall, is expected to be able to shoot in the league. And that is in large part thanks to Dirk.

Now you probably question how that stopped Dirk from getting the recognition he deserved and that is simple. The purists of the NBA fear change. A good percentage of the analysts and reporters for the league are in the purist group who have fought the change that the game has gone through over the years.

From the three-point line, to dunking and alley-oops, to the disappearance of the mid-range, all these changes have been fought by retired players and older analysts who were not playing at the time of the changes. Much like the older generation fights the “Millennial generation”, change is feared.

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