For the second consecutive season, all 30 NBA teams feature at least one international player. It's also the second straight season opening night rosters featured 100 international players from 37 countries and territories. But there's one international player that stands above the rest, Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki.
Nowitzki is in the midst of his 18th season, all with the Mavericks. He's the franchise leader in points, rebounds, field goals, three-pointers and games played. His status as the greatest player in Dallas history has been cemented with an exclamation point, winning the 2011 NBA title. The German recently surpassed Shaquille O'Neal for sixth on the NBA's all-time scoring list, which leads many to wonder: Is Nowitzki the greatest international player in NBA history?
Nowitzki has a resume that not many players-American or otherwise- can present at the end of their career. Not only has he scored over 28,000 points but he led the Mavericks to 11 consecutive 50-win seasons and 12 total in his first 17 years of play. Prior to his arrival in Dallas, the Mavs made just six playoff appearances in the team's first 18 years. Needless to say Dirk shouldn't need another point or rebound to enhance his Hall-of-Fame resume.Nowitzki is in the midst of his 18th season, all with the Mavericks. He's the franchise leader in points, rebounds, field goals, three-pointers and games played. His status as the greatest player in Dallas history has been cemented with an exclamation point, winning the 2011 NBA title. The German recently surpassed Shaquille O'Neal for sixth on the NBA's all-time scoring list, which leads many to wonder: Is Nowitzki the greatest international player in NBA history?
PLAYERS WITH 28,000 POINTS AND 10,000 REBOUNDS
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Karl Malone
Wilt Chamberlain
Dirk Nowitzki*
Shaquille O'Neal
*Only player in NBA history with 28,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 1,600 made three-pointers
Dirk didn't enter the league as a MVP caliber player, nor did he walk away with rookie of the year honors. In his first season, he amassed a grand total of 385 points. However, his work ethic and God- given abilities helped him become the player he is today. Something former Mavericks guard Derek Harper believes puts him in a class of his own.
"When he came over from Germany, everybody had power forwards that played with their backs to the basket," said the Mavericks all-time leader in assists and steals. "Seven-foot guys were never interested in venturing out to the perimeter. I think he really has transformed the game, because now that's what everyone is looking for. They're looking for guys that can shoot it and take it off the dribble. Just more versatile bigs, and I think Dirk is the originator of that particular style of play."
Nowitzki may be the originator of the "Stretch 7-footer", but the NBA has been home to the game's best from around the globe for quite some time. The likes of Arvydas Sabonis, Drazen Petrovic, Patrick Ewing, Toni Kukoc, Yao Ming and Pau Gasol have all excelled at the highest level with their own style of play.
Despite the wealth of international talent to play in the NBA, the debate for best of all-time resides in the heart of Texas. Between Nowitzki and Houston Rockets center Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon. Olajuwon was born and raised in Nigeria and played collegiately at the University of Houston prior to being drafted first overall by the Rockets in 1984.
Like Dirk, Hakeem holds Houston franchise records in every major category and is the NBA's all-time leader in blocks. While their styles of play are different their overall impact as players are quite similar.
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