The Dallas Mavericks never thought they would have one of the most iconic players in league history.
Not even the most optimistic fan or scout ever dreamed of Dirk Nowitzki becoming the revolutionary player he was, but here we are.
His signature one-legged fadeaway shot was pretty much unblockable or even uncontestable, and players have tried to replicate it and make it their own ever since.
That includes Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who recently shouted him out after his team shared a clip of him knocking down a one-legged fadeaway in practice.
S/O @swish41 https://t.co/qRW0akyvMR
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) October 4, 2023
It’s nice to see game recognizing game, especially considering it seems that people often forget just how good Dirk was.
He paved the way and set the blueprint for modern power forwards.
His shooting abilities were unprecedented for a guy his size, and while he was never a good defender or a gifted athlete, he made the most of that sweet touch to score over 31,000 career points.
Dirk had one of the most memorable runs to an NBA championship this game has ever seen, getting past Kobe Bryant, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s trio of future MVPs, and LeBron James’ Big 3 with the Miami Heat.
He put the Mavericks on the map and ended up with one of the most remarkable careers for an international player in NBA history, all while giving the game a new move.
Salute to Dirk, one of the true greats of this game, and one whose legacy will be remembered every time we see this shot.
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