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40 moments to celebrate Dirk Nowitzki’s 40th birthday

ByJasmyn Wimbish|
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 05: Dallas Mavericks Center Dirk Nowitzki (41) looks on before an NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers on February 5, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 05: Dallas Mavericks Center Dirk Nowitzki (41) looks on before an NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers on February 5, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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16. Western Conference Finals 48-point game

DALLAS, TX – MAY 17: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks moves the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the Western Conference Finals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 2011 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – MAY 17: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks moves the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the Western Conference Finals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 2011 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

It was Game 1 of the WCF and the Oklahoma City Thunder were the young, new kids everyone was excited about. Dirk quickly shot down that excitement by putting up 48 points in the first game. Talk about setting the tone. Kevin Durant put up 40, but it was Dirk and the Mavs who walked away with the win, and the clear advantage in the series. On the back of Nowitzki’s 32.2 points per game, the Mavericks made quick work of the Thunder in a five-game gentleman’s sweep.

17. Dirk’s flu game

Where were you when Dirk Nowitzki played with a fever of 102 degrees? You know, the game where, despite fighting a cold, he still managed to contribute 21 points in Game 4 of the 2011 Finals. The game where the rest of the Mavericks team picked Dirk up to win the game for him and keep the Mavs’ title chances alive. It took everything Dirk had to muster up enough energy to help Dallas in the fourth quarter and tie the series at two games apiece.

18. Response to Dwyane Wade & LeBron James mocking him

Again, don’t taunt Dirk Nowitzki. Following Game 4 of the Finals, LeBron and Dwyane Wade decided to poke fun at Dirk being sick. Dirk responded by dropping 29 points in Game 5, giving the Mavericks a 3-2 lead in the series. In the post-game press conference Nowitzki gave perhaps the greatest response to the two Heat superstars mocking him:

"“I just thought it was a little childish, little ignorant. I’ve been in this league 13 years I’ve never faked injury or an illness before. It’s not gonna add anything extra to me, this is the NBA Finals if you need extra motivation you have a problem.”"

19. Game-winning shot over Chris Bosh

Let’s take it back to a bit earlier in the series to Game 2 of the Finals. The Heat were up 1-0 in the series, and Dallas had a chance to tie it up before heading back to the AAC. In vintage Dirk fashion, down two points with 12 seconds left, Nowitzki went to work. Getting the ball at the three-point line Dirk backed-down Chris Bosh, spun to his left, drove to the basket and laid the ball in giving the Mavericks a 95-93 win.

20. Dirk & Holger

There would be no Dirk Nowitzki without Holger Geschwinder. It’s well known throughout the Mavs organization and perhaps the league who helped Dirk become the future Hall of Famer he is today. There’s countless footage of the unorthodox shooting exercises Geschwinder puts Nowitzki through, and after 20 years in the league the regimen is still the same.

Holger flies out to Dallas a few times throughout the season to put Dirk through his paces, and has even helped out fellow Mavericks along the way. If it weren’t for Holger training Dirk from a young age in Germany, he may have never played for the Dallas Mavericks.

Next: Dirk's greatest moments: 21-25

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