The Top 50

#17 - Dirk Nowitzki
I hope this isn’t too low. Dirk’s my least favourite player in the league by a wide margin, so I’ve never been one to praise him. But still. He was MVP* just a year ago. He’s among the rare elite that have reserved All-Star jerseys. He’s the best-shooting 7-footer ever; the guy who started that obscure Euro-fad that accosted the Draft. Whatever. I can’t bring myself to put Nowitzki any higher.

I’ll give him credit where it’s due: his offensive game is extremely effective, he’s a nightmare matchup who can shoot over almost anyone and beat slower defenders off the dribble. He runs the floor and passes extremely well for a big man, doesn’t cough the rock up much and at times can be just plain dominant (recall the ’06 Western Finals). He’s even been remarkably durable, playing in over 70 for the last nine seasons. Bottom line: he’s still one of the nicest offensive players in the league. Nowitzki is up at 17 don’t forget, ahead of some dudes who no GM would trade straight up for him.

...But on the flipside, Dirk’s a chump. He never plays tough defense, perennially underachieves in the playoffs and disappears in the crunch of his most important games. He’s been given some excellent coaching, surrounded by excesses of talent, and still hasn’t copped that ring Mark Cuban’s chasing after like Gollum. Dirk’s questionable legacy will forever be inflated by his Podoloff, even though his face was still swollen from the brisk swipe of Baron Davis’ backhand when he received it. But those glory days appear to have passed; his numbers are down across the board from several years ago and he’s lost some explosiveness in his attacks to the hoop.

I’m forced to see him for what he is: a former over-rated MVP who’s on the decline and further from title contention than he’s been since he was a rookie. He’s never been a good leader, clutch finisher or source of inspiration for his teammates, so I’m sceptical of his, or his team’s, ability to make the dramatic turnaround they need to contend again.