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Dallas Mavericks: 3 expectations for Dirk Nowitzki this season

By Kohl Rast

PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 7: Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) rests during the Dallas Mavericks 108-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on December 7, 2013 in Portland, Oregon. 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. (Photo by Chris Elise/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 7: Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) rests during the Dallas Mavericks 108-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on December 7, 2013 in Portland, Oregon. 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. (Photo by Chris Elise/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – MARCH 7: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball to score his 30,000th career point during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 7, 2017 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – MARCH 7: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball to score his 30,000th career point during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 7, 2017 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Top 5 Scorer

Although it may not last long, one of the expectations for Dirk Nowitzki this season has to be for him to break into the top 5 in the NBA’s All-Time scoring list. As of right now, Dirk sits at 6th on the All-Time scoring list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643), Michael Jordan (32,292) and Wilt Chamberlain (31,419).

Dirk currently has 31,187 points. That is 236 points behind Wilt Chamberlain for 5th place overall. This seems like it should be a pretty easy task to make it into the top 5, but Dirk is being trailed closely by some guy named LeBron James. LeBron is currently at 31,038 points, only 149 behind Dirk.

Related Story. Dirk is the NBA's funniest player

If something happens and LeBron is able to score the 385 points before Dirk could get his 236, then Dirk will never get the chance to spend a day in the top 5 on the All-Time scoring list. The only other way he could make it into that elite list would be for him to top Michael Jordan who is currently sitting at 4th. Dirk would need 1,105 points to pass Jordan and stay in the top 5.

To do that, Dirk would need to average 13.5 points per game for a full 82 games. I won’t say that is impossible for him by any means, but with the new focus on DSJ, Luka and DeAndre, it is going to be a little more difficult for Dirk to lay down double-digits night in and night out. Either way, I think Dirk will spend some time in the top 5 at some point this year.

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