Dirk Nowitzki: Dallas Mavericks legendary career – stats, records and numbers
Widely regarded as the best international NBA player to grace the game and one of the greatest ever to wear a Mavs jersey, find out more about the 2023 Hall of Fame nominee being honoured by his former franchise on Christmas Day.
Basketball
Across the NBA, the legacy of Dirk Nowitzki is plain to see.
The one legged fadeaway is, after all, his signature move.
But the high-arching off-balance basketball shot which is so often replicated, was more than just a piece of iconic play to the German. It transformed him into an unstoppable scorer and ultimately, into a legend of the game.
Over the course of his 21-year-long career at the Dallas Mavericks the 2.13m-tall forward racked up 31,560 career NBA points, placing him sixth in the all-time point scorer rankings behind of the game Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.
His ability to find net was critical to the overall success of the Mavericks who he carried to 15 play-offs (2001-2012; 2014-2016) as well as to the NBA title for the first and only time, in 2011.
It is somewhat fitting that Nowitzki is the first international name to appear on the all-time scorers list. It points to his dominance during an NBA era where very few imports had the impact they do today.
With the likes of two-time league MVPs Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo now tearing up the hardwood, international players are so often in the spotlight, but only after Nowitzki paved the way.
Tributes for the Mavericks man and his remarkable career began back in 2019 shortly after he retired. The City of Dallas renamed a street near the American Airlines Center Dirk Nowitzki Way in his honour.
Two years later and the praise continues. In January the Mavericks retired his No.41 jersey with Germany later following suit by retiring No.14, his chosen number while representing his country. Now the Mavericks will show their gratitude once again by unveiling a statue on Christmas Day when they host the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a five-game holiday slate.
It will depict him in the middle of his one-leg shot paying homage to the way he changed the game.
Dirk Nowitzki: Career in numbers
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Draft: 1998, Round 1, Pick 9
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21 NBA seasons
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14-time All-Star
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12-time All-NBA pick
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2007 League MVP
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2011 Finals MVP
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2011 NBA Championship winner
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31,560 career NBA points (ranked sixth)
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Two jerseys retired
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Beijing 2008 Olympic Games appearance