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

The Dallas Mavericks have officially played their last game with Dirk Nowitzki on the court. In honor of the greatest Mavs player of all time, here are the 41 best moments from his amazing career.

Dirk Nowitzki is the most amazing talent that has ever donned a Dallas Mavericks jersey. When he announced his plans to retire at the final home game of his career, my heart sank just a little. Not because I didn’t see it coming, but because it finally hit home.

Dirk has done some pretty amazing things in his career and in his life, so this post is to celebrate those 41 moments that have really defined Dirk as a basketball player, a Dallas Maverick and a human being.

41. The press conference fly

Let’s kick it off with a fun, lighthearted one. During the 2006 NBA Finals, the players have regular press conferences with the media. On this particular occasion, Dirk was answering a question from a media member when a fly decided to cross his path and stop on the table in front of him. This would prove to be detrimental for said fly.

40. Appearance on Conan

Dirk has never really been one to go on television and expand his publicity in any way, but he has made the occasional stop on some of the late night shows. One in particular that has stuck out was the time Dirk went on with Conan in 2014 to give Conan O’Brien a surprise “Texas Citizenship Test”. Conan scored well, but did need some help from the Big German.

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39. Dirk at the parade

Nowitzki is a man of many talents. He is an amazing basketball player and a skilled tennis player, he plays the guitar and has great communication skills. To go along with his many talents, Dirk does have some weaknesses. One of those weaknesses happens to be his ability to impersonate Queen’s Freddie Mercury.

38. 51 points in regulation vs. Warriors, 2006

Dirk has had a couple games in which he has eclipsed 50 total points. The only time he has ever dropped over 50 in regulation for a regular season game, however, came in 2006 against soon to be Mavs enemy, the Golden State Warriors. He shot 16-24 from the field, including 3-4 from three point. He also finished with 9 rebounds and 5 assists.

37. Big game against Celtics in 2002

Unfortunately, I was unable to find any video from this incredible game from Dirk Nowitzki, so let’s go through the stats. This was maybe Dirk’s best double-double performance of his career. He scored 33 points to go along with an impressive 23 rebounds. He also dished out 8 assists, blocked 4 shots and grabbed one steal in 45 minutes. The Mavs ended up beating the Celtics by 6.

36. 50 points against Suns in playoffs

While we are talking about big games from Dirk, why not bring up his highest scoring playoff game ever. On June 1, 2006, the Dallas Mavericks were playing the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals. The series was tied 2-2 and this crucial game 5 was set to sway the series in a big way. Dirk understood that and came out swinging, dropping 50 on 14-26 shooting, along with 12 rebounds and 3 assists. The Mavs won the game by 16 and took the series in 6.

Next: #35 - #31

35. Game 7 2003 NBA Playoffs vs. Blazers

Dirk was great in fun and exciting moments throughout his career, but he was at his best when the pressure was on. The first round of the 2003 NBA playoffs is one of the best examples of that. Despite going up 3-0 in the series, the Blazers battled back and won 3 straight against Dallas, including a 22-point beat down in game 6 where Dirk was completely ineffective. Well, Dirk wasn’t going to have anymore of that.

34. Alley-oop from Steph Curry

In the 2015 NBA All-Star game, Dirk Nowitzki was a reserve. This was the last All-Star game that Dirk was voted into during his career,  but he was also having a successful season up to that point. That said, 2015 Dirk was really only about a step faster than 2019 Dirk. That’s why it was so awesome when Steph found Dirk rolling to the basket and put the ball right where he needed it.

33. Dirk’s final dunk

The fact that Dirk’s only two dunks of his final season came in the last five games of the year should tell you just how amazing it was to witness the final one. People tend to forget that Dirk was actually a pretty emphatic dunker for a big part of his career. He changed his game a little more than halfway into his career to increase the longevity, but he could dunk. And it looks like he still can.

https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/1115797650887053312

32. Three-point contest champion 2006

Dirk is the smoothest shooting big man in NBA history and no one will ever be able to convince me otherwise. At 7-foot, Nowitzki was a guard in a big man’s body, which scared a lot of teams prior to his draft. Luckily, it didn’t scare Don Nelson and the Mavs. Dirk proved to be not only the best big man shooter, but one of the best shooters in the game, period. This is evidenced by his three-point contest title in 2006 and his top 3 finish in 2000, 2001 and 2008.

31. 29 points in the 4th

Nowitzki has provided Mavericks fans and NBA fans in general with countless highlights and big moments. Many of those great moments just so happened to come against the Utah Jazz. For some reason, Dirk always seemed to play his best games against Utah and perhaps the best evidence of that was this game on November 3, 2009. Dirk wasn’t having a great game…until he needed to step up in the 4th.

Next: #30 - #26

30. 1998 Nike Hoop Summit – U.S vs. World

This game technically wasn’t part of Dirk’s NBA career, but it was a big part of his NBA journey. Prior to this game, Dirk was barely known around the league. When he showed up to play against well known, U.S. born talent and wiped the floor with them, people took notice quickly. After a 33-point performance, there were plenty of teams interested, but none more than Don Nelson’s Mavs.

29. Dirk’s first point

Nowitzki’s first points in an NBA game came on a pair of free throws. A quiet way to enter the league, and despite scoring another 31,559 points after this first free throw, his career followed the path of that first basket in many ways, quietly effective in a way that some people just never fully understood.

28. Dirk and Luka

The saddest part about Dirk retiring after this season may in fact be that we don’t get to spend more time with he and Luka Doncic. As far as entertaining pairs go, those two were maybe the most entertaining, lovable pair I have ever seen in my time watching sports, competing with Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus with the Texas Rangers. This was one of their most fun moments together.

27. The lay-up over Chris Bosh

Some of the greatest players in NBA history have a play that is brought up regularly with their name. For Michael Jordan, it was “The Shot” against Cleveland in 1989. For LeBron, it was probably the block on Andre Iguodala. John Havlicek had the steal, Allen Iverson stepped over Tyronn Lue and Shaq tore the backboard down. For Dirk, the most memorable individual moment was likely this shot that sealed one of the biggest comebacks in NBA Finals history.

26. And-1 vs. Manu

Although the play before may be more memorable and at a more important moment, this play stands out because it was the key play against the most frustrating of all Mavs opponents. With Dallas down by three in a game 7, they turn to their best player to just do something to give them a chance in this game. This and-1 sends the game to OT where the Mavs dominate and get their first ever series win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Next: #25 - #21

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.

Next: #20 - #16

20. 48 points against OKC in playoffs

Still the greatest Dirk game I have ever seen in person. The 2011 playoff run was something that even the best storyteller would have trouble putting together. The Mavs did not just push through adversity on their way to the title, they obliterated the competition in every series. This was maybe the most impressive individual game for the eventual Finals MVP, who went 12-15 from the field and 24-24 from the free throw line. The Mavs won 121-112 and won the series 4-1.

19. EuroBasket MVP 2005

This was a small thing that isn’t talked about a lot, but it is an impressive feat to be named the best player in the EuroBasket tournament that happens only every other year. Others who have won the award include Arvydas Sabonis, Toni Kukoc, Peja Stojakovic, Pau Gasol, Andrei Kirilenko and Tony Parker.

18. Game winners

Dirk has had so many game winners in his career that we could have our own top 20 list of his best game winners throughout his career. This video shows a majority of them and shows just how amazing this man was in the clutch. This is one of those areas that he was so good at from the start that people have overlooked it.

17. Twitter

If Dirk’s play on the court isn’t infectious enough, his sense of humor should be. Dirk has to be considered maybe the best player in the league at trolling people on Twitter. There is no shortage of laughs that he has provided us through this social media platform, but here are a couple of my favorites.

https://twitter.com/swish41/status/987348713185083392

16. Dallas Mavericks All-Time Leading Scorer

There are 30 players in NBA history that can say they are the leading scorer for a particular franchise. Some of them are not as impressive as others. Some franchises are younger and their top franchise scorer may not be as impressive as others. For perspective on how amazing it is for Dirk, there are only two teams with more points for their franchises. That is pretty amazing.

Next: #15 - #11

15. Representing Germany in 2008 Olympics

It’s time we got into some stuff that may not be as meaningful for Mavs fans or fans in Dallas in particular, but it is something that is truly an honor. In this case, Dirk carried the flag as the main representative for the country of Germany in the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. This honor is something that I am sure Dirk holds close to his heart still to this day.

https://twitter.com/DreyerChina/status/986862033474859009/photo/1

14. Top foreign born scorer in NBA history

The argument about who is the best foreign born player in NBA history is one that will likely never have a clear cut answer. Right now, the debate is definitely between Dirk Nowitzki and the guy he passed to become the all-time leading foreign born scorer in NBA history, Hakeem Olajuwon. Others may make their case in years to come.

13. 10,000 career defensive rebounds

This is one of the most recent achievements and things on this list for Dirk, but it really is an impressive feat to grab 10,000 defensive rebounds. He was never going to be a great offensive rebounder, that was known from the start, but he was a much better defensive rebounder than he ever got credit for. That is noted by his being 7th on the All-Time list and 5th on the All-NBA list.

12. 30,000 points

Dirk’s long list of achievements started years ago, but the ones that have really set him apart from the crowd have been more recent. This moment in particular is one of the coolest things that NBA fans will likely not see again for some time. There are some in the league now that may make it over 30,000 points, but Dirk was only the 6th player in NBA history to do it when it happened.

11. 14x All-Star

I don’t have a tweet or a video to go with this one, because the numbers should speak for themselves. In NBA history, only 5 players have gone to more All-Star games than Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk also had the difficult task of having to prove his case on the court and never getting in based on a popularity contest. Dirk never made it into the starting lineup for the All-Star game based on fan votes. Dirk was a very unique player in that sense.

Next: #10 - #6

10. 12x All-NBA

Dirk’s breakdown for his 12 All-NBA selections is three 3rd team, five 2nd team and four 1st team selections. His four times on the first team All-NBA came in 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2008-09. There are six players in NBA history who have been on the All-NBA teams more than Dirk.

9. Dirk Nowitzki and Mark Cuban’s relationship

Mark Cuban bought the Dallas Mavericks on January 4, 2000. almost instantly, it seemed that Dirk and Cuban had some sort of connection. That has been made clear over the past 21 years as we have seen that Mark Cuban has done just about anything to keep Dirk happy and joyful here in Dallas. Here is Cuban talking about their relationship.

8. 50-40-90 club

The 50-40-90 club is one of the most prestigious clubs that doesn’t get talked about a lot. The big name guys like MJ (three-point) and LeBron (free throw) aren’t in it but this is one of the most unique and impressive accomplishments a player can achieve. Dirk is one of only eight players that have done it, with Malcolm Brogdon joining the ranks this season.

7. #3 in Games played

There are only two players in NBA history who have played more games than Dirk. No matter what the stat is, that is something that is truly amazing. Dirk was not only active in the league for 21 years, he was particularly good at staying healthy. His only major injuries came in the 2012-13, 2016-17 and 2018-19 seasons where Dirk missed a combined 87 games.

6. The Flü Game

This game is one of the most amazing stories about Dirk’s resilience. It was game 4 of the 2011 NBA Finals and the Mavs were down in the series 2-1. Dirk was reportedly running a fever of 102 and was looking worse for the wear. Despite a rough night shooting, the Mavs had to put the ball in Dirk’s hands with the game on the line and he delivered. Wade and LeBron acting like Dirk was faking it may be the icing on the cake as the Mavs stomped down the first year of Miami’s big three.

Next: #5 - #1

5. Passing Wilt Chamberlain

This put Dirk in as the 6th All-Time scorer in NBA history, with some of the best to ever play the game ahead of him. Dirk earned his way all the way up that list, and although he never made it all the way into the top 5, his achievements on the court are unmatched by almost any other player in league history.

4. NBA Finals MVP 2011

Dirk was the best player on the best team in the league in 2011 and it showed as he took home the Finals MVP award after knocking off the Miami Heat in six games. This award was truly something special as it was maybe the final step in fighting off the narrative that Dirk was soft and unable to get his team over the hump. Only a few things top this amazing moment.

3. NBA MVP 2007

In 2007, there was not one single basketball player in the world better than Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk went from the soft European that could never lead a team to success, to the NBA MVP and the leader of a 67-win team in less than 10 years. Although things did not turn out great for Dallas that year, there is no denying his greatness during that season.

2. Hoisting the 2011 Larry O’Brien Trophy

For Dirk, the MVP season and the Finals MVP were great, but the most important thing to him was bringing home that big trophy to a championship-starved city of Dallas, who hadn’t seen success from any of their sports franchises in so long. Dirk is a true Texan and Dallas native and this trophy meant more to him than almost anything.

1. Dirk in action in the community

When Dirk looks back on his last 21 years, he will remember some of his accomplishments. He will remember hoisting that trophy and the countless awards and achievements that accompanied him in Dallas, but I believe the things he will remember the best are the days he spent with the children who need help in the area. This video in particular is one of the most telling things about who Dirk is as a man. And this is the greatest achievement in Dirk’s legacy.

I have loved celebrating Dirk’s career over the past couple decades. He has done some things that no one else could ever do, and he did it all in Dallas. Dirk is the greatest athlete to ever come through Dallas, and he is one of the greatest people to call this place home, period. We will miss you, Dirk, but we look forward to seeing what’s next.