I’ve never denied Dirk Nowitzki’s greatness, but I’d be lying if I told you I believed in his ability to lead the Mavericks to an NBA title. As a matter of fact, I had last season’s Mavs falling to the Blazers in the first round. I wasn’t the only one, and as crazy as it may seem right now, Nowitzki was not long ago considered a player who couldn’t always be relied upon to step his game up when it counted most. This school of thought was the product of a few painful disappointments, including a historical first-round defeat at the hands of the ’07 Warriors and a Finals collapse against the Miami Heat.
Not only was I a doubter of Dirk, but I didn’t always like him. I think it had more to do with who his Mavericks competed with than it did with Nowitzki himself, but I look back on his career and realize how rarely I’ve rooted for the guy… and it almost makes me feel foolish. Actually, it’s not that I never rooted for him, but that I never appreciated him. I allowed myself to get too wrapped up in my ’07 Warriors and my ’09 Nuggets to respect one of the most unique players ever to pick up a ball, and for that I was a dumbass.
I’m guess I’m not the only one. Dirk turned thousands of doubters into dumbasses last spring, and as of last night he’s got 10 karats of cleverly-arranged diamonds to show for his years of hard work.
Watching him receive his ring was a real feel-good moment. I’m not gonna lie, it damn near brought a tear to my eye. How anyone could be anything but happy for this man, who is a symbol of perseverance, I have no idea. How anyone could deny that he was the greatest basketball player on the planet last spring, again, I have no idea. Nowitzki, in my mind, has inarguably cemented himself as a top-10 player of the post-Jordan era. If there’s still anyone out there who feels differently, oh well; it’s no longer any skin off of Dirk’s back. He can simply tell them to kiss the ring, or his ass.
Swag?
Official –Swag-O-Meter– Rating:
5/5
Astronomical.
