Breaking News: Another Dirk Nowitzki Milestone

The Uberman, Dirk Nowitzki has once again accomplished something that no other NBA player in the history of the league has ever done. Not Bill Russell, not Wilt Chamberlain, not Magic Johnson, or Larry Bird, not Cousy or Havlicek, and not even Tim Duncan. And this isn't just a small or random stat that some stat geek dug up in the bowels of NBA stats, this is a major deal that puts Dirk in a league with the elite players of NBA history. He will go to the Hall of Fame, and he will be remembered by (at least) Mavs' fans as the greatest player in Mavericks franchise history. There's no doubt he is that already. The only thing he has not accomplished is bringing home a Championship trophy to Dallas. But he's got some years left to do this, and like he said: "We've got as good of a shot this year as we've ever had, I think, we've just gotta go for it and see what happens." And I believe they will go for it this season. And I believe that Dirk has been going for it for at least 10 straight seasons now...

I know he doesn't have the Championship rings to show for his efforts and believe me when I say that it is the largest current travesty in sports right now that he hasn't won yet. I'd say that Phil Mickelson having never won a Major was the last terrible occurrence of "not winning the big one"...but he remedied that. Unfortunately some of the all-time greats like John Stockton, Carl Malone, Charles Barkley, "Pistol" Pete Maravich, Reggie Miller, Dominique Wilkins, Patrick Ewing, and Elgin Baylor have not been remembered properly because they failed to win a Championship during their careers. All of those guys deserved to win at least one. If Dirk falls into that group of men who aren't remembered as well as the guys who have rings it would be a true sports tragedy. ESPN would have to devote a "top 5 reasons you can't blame..." to why Dirk didn't win the big one.

But the fact is that Dirk Nowitzki has done things that no other NBA player has ever done. And this is a big one...so, courtesy of the great David Lord of dallasbasketball.com I bring you the incredible accomplishment of Dirk Nowitzki.

I mentioned yesterday that the Mavericks had just become the 4th team in NBA history to win 50 games in 10 straight seasons. I also said that Dirk was around during that entire 10 year period and that he had been the catalyst that really made this machine work. Using that analogy, when pieces of a machine get old or worn or used up they are replaced and upgraded and refurbished...that is what the Maverick organization has done these past 10 seasons. Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson have really thrown out the old parts and upgraded at times and at other times used lesser pieces to make the machine go. But for the last decade they have made the machine work no matter what parts are being used, and on the court there has been only one constant during this great run; Dirk Nowitzki. The thing is, Dirk has never been replaced. Dirk has never needed to be replaced. The only thing the Uberman has changed is his style of play...he's improved it and become a more well rounded player, he has evolved as the game has evolved and as the new younger players in the league have come and upped the tempo, Dirk has brought his game to higher levels year after year, always practicing, and always improving.

These are the reasons that Dirk Nowitzki has become the first and only player in NBA history to lead his team to 50+ wins for 10 straight seasons while being the leading scorer on that team.

Think about that...maybe read it again so it sinks in...now you get it, right? I know what your saying..."whatever, Larry Bird led his team in scoring and so did Magic and so did Russell...?" Well, yes...but not the way Dirk has. Let me explain and give you the stats.

Player	Consecutive 50 win seasons	Years as leading scorer
Dirk Nowitzki	10X50	10
Larry Bird	9X50	9
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	10X50	7
Tim Duncan	10X50	6
Tom Heinsohn	7X50	3

This is a testament to Dirk's ability to sustain success over a period of time. He's played 911 games in his career and only missed 30. His longevity is nearly unmatched especially for a guy of his size and ability. He is durable and is extremely consistent and he knows how to win. There are numerous reasons that he has not won a Championship and perhaps one day I'll devise my own list of the "top 5 reasons you can't blame..." Dirk Nowitzki for not winning an NBA Championship. But I'm not going to rant about it today. The fact is that despite those few devastating post-season set backs Dirk flat out wins. He plays in almost ever game possible and wins at a very high percentage. 

He is the reason that Dallas has a good basketball team. Without him the Mavs' may have been an average team for this entire decade with maybe a couple seasons standing out. But because of Dirk the Mavs' are an accomplished and successful franchise that has won more games and had more success in the regular season than every other team except the San Antonio Spurs. But the Spurs are on their way out, they are not the contender they used to be. Dallas is. And Dallas will be for at least a few more years while Dirk is still here. I'll leave you with a quote from the Uberman himself after Dallas clinched that 10X50 status this is what he said (and it kinda makes you sad): 

"That's something special," Dirk said of 10X50, "and I'm glad I was basically a part of this last decade. Won a lot of games, had a lot of fun, had a lot of great playoff runs. But, you know, like I've said, I'd rather trade that for a championship ring any day...we've got as good of a shot this year as we've ever had, I think, and we just gotta go for it and see what happens."

Even though Dirk says he was "basically a part of it"...we all know that he WAS THE PART!