Dirk Nowitzki — Dallas Mavericks
Age: 39 (19 seasons)
It is fitting that Dirk Nowitzki comes right after Jason Terry in this post as the two won the 2011 title together. However, he also joins Terry on the Murtaugh List itself.
Nowitzki is a legend, but like any old soldier, he will never die, just fade away. The problem for Nowitzki now is his proximity to being completely gone. So far this season he is playing over 25 minutes a night but only averaging 9.2 points and 6.4 rebounds. His 34% shooting percentage is bound to rise as his 7-foot frame allows him to shoot over almost anyone, but he won’t have much else going for him.
It isn’t fun to watch any player fade out of the league, but with Nowitzki’s charm and goofiness, the process is that much more painful. For all the players on the Murtaugh list, it isn’t an enjoyable process to see the talent that made them one of the best basketball players in the world leave them, but Dirk’s hurts me the most.
Nowitzki reminded us in 2011 that the most talented team doesn’t always win the NBA Finals. Sometimes the underdog puts it all together and upsets the favored team like that veteran-laden Dallas team did. With the Golden State Warriors presumedly going on another victory march this season, one wonders if there is a team like those Mavericks that can play the spoiler.
We’ll settle for the nostalgia if Dirk is making his final run, but five games in and with the last few seasons indicating a larger trend, that may be all we have left.