The Smoking Cuban
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Three reasons the 2011 Dallas Mavericks should be ranked higher

ByKohl Rast|
Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – APRIL 10: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks cries before the game against the San Antonio Spurs on April 10, 2019 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, 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 2019 NBAE (Photos by Darren Carroll/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – APRIL 10: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks cries before the game against the San Antonio Spurs on April 10, 2019 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, 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 2019 NBAE (Photos by Darren Carroll/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dirk Nowitzki

This is the only NBA Championship team in NBA history that had Dirk Nowitzki. That is a very important thing to consider when it comes down to it. Now, Mavs fans tend to maybe exaggerate Dirk and his accomplishments just a little bit, but there really is no individual player who has done more for a city and a franchise in NBA history than Dirk Nowitzki has for Dallas.

Maybe this shouldn’t show up on the score sheets since it is a hard thing to gauge, but the ability Dirk had to play in the biggest moments of this playoff run are so meaningful. He was the best player on the court in every series and his unguardable shot made it impossible for any team to guard.

Dirk also represented the group of veterans that this team brought to the floor. It was a bit of a coming back to reality with people seeing that a team built around guys that know how to play and know the league can still beat the young superstars. Dirk was the leader and the best player for that squad.

Dirk and crew beat the team that won the next two championships (both ranked ahead of the Mavs in this particular ranking somehow) and he did it quietly and without the respect of the national media. His career has been overlooked since the start by many and it was never more clear than in 2011.

The 2011 Dallas Mavericks were one of the greatest championship teams in NBA history and no ranking will ever convince me otherwise. Dirk and the rest of his crew changed the NBA that year and changed Dallas forever.

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