IS DIRK NOWITZKI
THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER OF ALL-TIME ?
Dirk Nowitzki was born in Wurzburg, Germany on June 19th,
1978. Dirk stands 7'1" tall and weighs 250 pounds.
Dirk started his basketball career at a very early age playing
for his local High School team in Wurzburg, the Rontgen Gyminasium team. He
played basketball in Germany from 1997 until 1999. He was then drafted by the
Milwaukee Bucks in the first round (9th pick overall for 1998 draft).
Draft rights traded by Bucks with draft rights to F-Pat Garrity to Dallas
Mavericks for draft rights to F-Robert Traylor ( June 24, 1998).
He was first noticed by the NBA world when a team of American pro stars,
including Scottie Pippen,
Jason Kidd,
Gary Payton and
Charles Barkley, came to Germany and played an exhibition game against a
German national youth team in September 1997. Nowitzki scored 42 points and had
17 rebounds. The 34 year old Barkley was helpless. During the game, Nowitzki dunked over Charles Barkley. Barkley saw a future superstar in the gangly German
teenager and later admitted to offering to pay him "any amount of money he
wanted if he would come to his alma mater,
Auburn."
Nowitzki did not truly gain international attention, however, until the
March 1998 Nike Hoop Summit in
San Antonio, Texas, where he notched 33 points and 14 rebounds to lead a
team of international juniors to a surprise victory over a
U.S. junior team.
" Nowitzki is the Most Unique player I have ever seen. No one
comes Remotely Close." -Bill Walton
NBA highlights
9-time NBA All-Star: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 , 2007,2008,2009,2010
11-time All-NBA:
First Team: 2003, 2005, 2006 ,2007, 2008,2009,2010,2011
NBA regular-season leader, 2003, 2005, 2006 ,2007,2009
Three-Point Shootout Champion: 2006
Milestones
Became the only player in NBA history to register 150
three-point field goals and 100 blocks in a season (he had 151
three-point field goals and 101 blocks in the
2000-01 season)
Became the first player in Dallas Mavericks history to be named to
an All-NBA team (2000-01), and is the only Maverick to be named to an All-NBA
First Team (2004-05
and
2005-06)
Became the first player in NBA history who did not attend a United
States high school or college to be on the All-NBA first team (2004-05)
Became the third player in NBA history (after
Rick Barry and
Larry Bird) to average 26-plus points while shooting 90% or better from
the line (2005-06)
Surpassed the 10,000 point plateau in his career on
January 18,
2005 against the Washington Wizards.
Dallas Mavericks franchise records
Most points in a game, season: 53 (December
2,
2004 vs.
Houston Rockets (overtime))
Most points in a game, season, regulation: 51 (March
23,
2006 vs. Golden State Warrior)
Most points in a game, playoffs: 50 (June
1,
2006 vs. the Phoenix Sun)
Most free throws in a game, attempted, playoffs: 24 (May
13,
2006 vs.
San Antonio Spurs)
Most free throws in a game, made, playoffs: 21 (May
13,
2006 vs. San Antonio Spurs)
Most free throws in a game, attempted, season: 22 (December
2,
2004 vs. Houston Rockets
Most free throws in a game, made, season: 21 (December
2,
2004 vs. Houston Rockets (overtime))
Facts about Nowitzki
Nowitzki is the only Player in NBA History to hit 150 3-
pointers & have 100 Block shots in the same year. Nowitzki did this in the
2000-2001 season.
Nowitzki is the only player in NBA History to win the 3-Point
Shootout contest and than be the NBA's Top Rebounder in the Playoffs. Nowitzki
did this in 2006.
Nowitzki is the third player in NBA History to Score more than 26
points per game and Shoot over 90% from the Foul line in the same Season. The
other two are Rick Barry and Larry Bird. Nowitzki did this during the 2005-2006
season.
Nowitzki is the Seventh Player in NBA History to score more
than 26 points per game on a team that won 60 or more games. The others were Jabbar, Bird, Jordan, David Robinson, Karl Malone, Shaq.
On June 1, 2006 in the 5th game of the Western Conference
Finales. Nowitzki Played what is Now being called the Greatest Playoff
Performance in NBA History . Nowitzki
Scored 50 points on 14-26 from the
Field,17-18 from the line & 5-6 from 3-point land. In the 4th Quarter Nowitzki
scored 22 points including 15 in a row. Nowitzki also Grabbed 12 Rebounds.
Only Three other Players since 1970 have scored that many
points & Grabbed that many Rebounds in a Playoff Game Bob Mcadoo, Charles
Barkley & Karl Malone.
Over the past 9 Seasons Nowitzki has Grabbed more Rebounds
than Shaq and hit more 3-pointers for his career than Tracey Mcgrady.
" Nowitzki is a Stud - Head and Shoulders the Best Player in
the World."- Tom Tolbert
The FIBA (Federation International Basketball Association )
named Dirk Nowitzki it's 2005 European Player of the year.
Since 2002 the FIBA has Ranked Nowitzki as one of the Top
Three Players in the World.
Over the past 10 Seasons No one in the NBA has Scored more
Points and grabbed more Rebounds than Dirk Nowitzki.
Reggie Miller is the All time 3-point shooter. Before
the age of 29 Miller had made 717 3-pointers. Nowitzki has hit 940 before
his 29th Birthday.
Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, "Pistol" Pete Maravich, Michael
Jordan, Four of the Greatest Guards of All-time. None of them Ever shot 86% from
the Foul Line for a Single Season. Nowitzki is at .876 for his CAREER from the
Free Throw Line.
Ben Wallace is considered the Best Rebounder of the Modern
era. Ben Wallace grabbed 3522 Rebounds before his 28th Birthday. Nowitzki has
Grabbed 5149 Rebounds before his 28th Birthday.
Nowitzki was the MVP of the 2002 World Championships, Where he
led Germany to a Bronze Medal. Team USA with Reggie Miller, Michael Finely,
Shawn Marion, Ben Wallace, Baron Davis, Jermaine O'Neal, Antonio Davis, Raef
Lafrentz, Elton Brand, Paul Pierce, Andre Miller, Jay Williams, Finished
6th.
At the 2006 All-Star weekend, Dirk Nowitzki became the Tallest
player to win the three point shootout contest , Beating Ray Allen and Gilbert
Arenas in the finale Round. Both Arenas and Allen are 8 inches Shorter than
Nowitzki.
Nowitzki set the Dallas Maverick Franchise record during the
2005-2006 season by making 60 consecutive foul shots.
In 2010 Nowitzki made 82 free throws in a row. 3rd longest
streak in NBA history
Over the past 10 years only one NBA team has won more games
than the Dallas Mavericks.
" Nowitzki is Bigger and More Athletic than Bird "- Reggie
Miller
On August 4, 2004 the USA Olympic team played The German
National team. The USA Team had Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Lebron James, Stephon
Marbury, Lamar Odom, Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Shawn
Marion, Richard Jefferson, Carlos Boozer. Germany had Dirk Nowitzki and 11 other
guys you have Never Heard of. Allen Iverson Hit a Running Half Court Shot at the
Buzzer to give Team USA a 80-77 victory. Below is the Box score from that game.