Dallas Mavericks: Kevin Love crafted his game after Dirk Nowitzki

Kevin Love crafted his game after Dallas Mavericks GOAT Dirk Nowitzki

Dallas Mavericks supporters do not need anyone to tell them how much Dirk Nowitzki changed the game of basketball and the city of Dallas. His 21 years in a Mavs uniform are the definition of greatness. Nowitzki helped usher in the movement of big men shooting threes and spacing the floor. Now, every NBA team employs at least one stretch four/five.

Dirk was more than a legendary player too. He made a profound impact in Dallas and worldwide with his charity efforts. Fans know about his annual charity softball game and tennis tournament. The full list of Dirk giving back is entirely too long to mention. It helped Nowitzki become the Dallas Mavericks in many ways.

Dirk was also one of the best clutch players in the NBA for two decades. Check out an in-depth look at his numbers in crunch time here.

Kevin Love wanted to play like Dallas Mavericks GOAT Dirk Nowitzki

Cleveland Cavaliers forward and five-time All-Star Kevin Love recently joined Ernie Johnson for an NBA Live Together chat. The two discussed a myriad of topics including Dirk’s impact on Love’s game. He had this to say about the Mavs GOAT.

"“I always looked at Dirk. You know being seven feet, trailing, shooting the three, shooting at a very high clip. He was somebody that was tough to model your game after being seven-foot and shooting that fade away, but somebody I really looked to being a big and shooting threes.”"

Love also noted that he believed he and Dirk were the only two power forwards to ever win the 3-point contest.

This should come as no surprise. Many of today’s top big men looked up to Dirk and modeled their games after him. That comes with the territory of being one of the best scorers in NBA history and a changing the game. Every kid wants to grow up to be the leading scorer. Dirk helped make that possible for power forwards.

There is never a bad moment to pay tribute to Dirk Nowitzki. Here is to wishing him the best in his retirement. Fans cannot wait to see him back at the American Airlines Center taking in a Mavericks game.