Dallas Mavericks: The 41 greatest moments of Dirk Nowitzki’s career

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DALLAS – APRIL 25: Tracy McGrady #1 of the Houston Rockets guards Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks during Game one of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2005 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 25, 2005 in Dallas, Texas. The Rockets won 113-111 to take a 2-0 series lead. 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 2005 NBAE (Photo By Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

25. Dirk’s final 30-point game

On a night where Dirk’s face was in every seat in the arena, it was fitting that Dirk should score yet another 30-point game before calling it a career. It was far from his most efficient game and it looked to tire him out more than we had really ever seen from the Big German, but all-in-all, this was a moment that anyone in the stadium will remember for a very long time.

24. Video shorts

One of the really interesting things about the Dallas Mavericks and their presence at the American Airlines Center is that the players are expected to participate in these short videos that are played periodically during timeout breaks at different games. Dirk has been starring in these for years and has been part of a number of truly hilarious moments.

23. Draft Day

The day it all began. The Dallas Mavericks had the 6th overall pick in the NBA Draft with which they took a man by the name of Robert “Tractor” Traylor. The Milwaukee Bucks were interested in Tractor and the Mavs had their eyes on Dirk Nowitzki, so a trade was made that changed the course of both franchises for decades to come.

22. 53 points against Houston and Tracy McGrady

Dirk had his highest scoring regular season game while playing the Houston Rockets in 2002. As Nowitzki knocked down an amazing 53 points, Tracy McGrady kept pace right to the bitter end, scoring 48 of his own. The two future Hall of Famers duked it out, combining for an amazing 101 points, but Dirk and the Mavs got the last laugh, winning the game in overtime.

21. Dirk’s first triple-double

In February of 2008, Dallas Mavericks legend, Dirk Nowitzki, notched one more thing onto his already impressive belt. His first triple-double came against the Milwaukee Bucks, the same team that traded him on draft day 10 years earlier. Dirk scored 29 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 12 assists in 42 minutes. The Mavs beat the Bucks by 11.

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